Safety concerns over youngsters and adults alike jumping off the end of Tenby harbour pier have resurfaced this week, with a decision made by the Local Authority and partner agencies to now close off the area during high tides.

Campaigns such as ‘Be Water Aware’ and ‘Respect The Water’ have continued to spread the safety message in recent years, highlighting hidden dangers of swimming and jumping in the harbour area.

The act of ‘tombstoning’ is considered dangerous because of the risk of hitting water from a height and that posed by underwater hazards such as rocks and shallow water.

The dangers the sea can pose hit home on Wednesday when an incident near to the pier at Bournemouth beach saw a 12-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy who got into difficulties, pulled from the water, later sadly dying in hospital, after sustaining critical injuries. Emergency services were called to the scene, which was packed with people on half-term holidays, just after 4.30 pm. Eight other swimmers were rescued and treated on the beach.

The concerns of people jumping off the end of the pier at Tenby harbour which has been highlighted many times before by emergency rescue services, Dyfed-Powys Police, local councillors and also boat operators, has been reaffirmed once again this weekend, with the hot weather and Whitsun holidays attracting a high volume of people to the harbour area.

And its not just the action of jumping off the pier end that has raised concerns, with reports of some climbing onto roofs of properties in the vicinity, subsequently causing damage and then jumping into the sea from a neighbouring building.

County councillor for Tenby’s South ward Cllr Sam Skyrme-Blackhall said: “Over the weekend, this problem was much worse and there were serious safety issues.

“Following concerns being raised by boatmen, I am pleased that Pembrokeshire County Council and all partner agencies have acted swiftly to address the situation.

“In the immediate term, the end of the pier will be closed at high tides. Further meetings will take place this week to agree a plan for moving forward.

“I am hopeful that this plan will include additional police resources and I am calling for Operation Lion to be brought forward.

“Safety in the harbour is our primary concern and I congratulate the Chief Executive of PCC and his team for such a swift and effective response on Sunday morning,” added Cllr Skyrme-Blackhall.

Boat operator and member of Tenby’s HM Coastguard Search and Rescue team, Mike Tebbutt commented: “Coming into the harbour on Friday evening I had five teenagers jump from the pier directly in front of my boat!

“Not one of them checked to see if a boat was coming in. When they saw me, the boat was purposely targeted by one individual shouting ‘bomb the boat!’

“I appreciate that teenagers need to have fun but a tragedy isn’t far away if this isn’t policed correctly. Well done PCC,” he added.

Roger Miles, one of Tenby’s boat skippers explained the concerns amongst his fellow ‘boatmen’ at a previous ‘Breakwater’ safety event at the harbour about the risk participants pose to themselves and others by jumping off the pier, and other vantage points around the seaside town’s harbour and beaches.

“For boat owners when we have to manoeuvre a vessel in and out of the harbour carrying a large crowd of passengers then our focus is on their safety, yet there are kids still choosing to jump into the water off the pier who end up swimming around the boats,” he explained.

“We know that they’re trying to have fun but it causes big concerns for us boat operators.

“Young people may think that boats can stop immediately but they are not like cars.

“The worst scenario is someone could clank their head against the bow of the boat, go under and connect with the propeller and it could make mince meat out of someone.

“It’s only a matter of time before something tragic happens, and everyone would have to live with something like that,” added Roger.

A spokesperson for PCC commented: “Dangers to Tenby Harbour ‘jumpers’ from moving boats are being highlighted.

“Good weather, increased visitors and evening high tides have raised safety and anti-social behaviour concerns.

“Jumpers face potential significant danger from vessel movements within the harbour.

“Efforts to reduce the numbers involved are being made by Pembrokeshire County Council and other agencies today (Sunday, June 4).

“This includes additional fencing and security staff,” they added.

“I am hopeful that this plan will include additional police resources and I am calling for Operation Lion to be brought forward.

“Safety in the harbour is our primary concern and I congratulate the Chief Executive of PCC and his team for such a swift and effective response on Sunday morning,” added Cllr Skyrme-Blackhall.

Roger Miles, one of Tenby’s boat skippers explained the concerns amongst his fellow ‘boatmen’ at a previous ‘Breakwater’ safety event at the harbour about the risk participants pose to themselves and others by jumping off the pier, and other vantage points around the seaside town’s harbour and beaches.

“For boat owners when we have to manoeuvre a vessel in and out of the harbour carrying a large crowd of passengers then our focus is on their safety, yet there are kids still choosing to jump into the water off the pier who end up swimming around the boats,” he explained.

“We know that they’re trying to have fun but it causes big concerns for us boat operators.

“Young people may think that boats can stop immediately but they are not like cars.

“The worst scenario is someone could clank their head against the bow of the boat, go under and connect with the propeller and it could make mince meat out of someone.

“It’s only a matter of time before something tragic happens, and everyone would have to live with something like that,” added Roger.