Boy, 15, ‘impaled right down to the bone on harbour railing’

A 15-year-old boy is in hospital after being ‘impaled’ at a harbour in Pagham, a village in West Sussex.

The teenager suffered two ‘nasty’ puncture wounds ‘right down to the bone’ on railings at the entrance of Pagham Harbour yesterday afternoon.

He was treated at the scene just after 5.30pm before being ‘stretchered and carried back to the ambulance and taken to hospital’, the coastguard said.

Coastguard officials also issued a warning about people throwing themselves into the sea, an activity called ‘tombstoning’.

‘Tombstoning is a high-risk activity where people jump or dive from height into water, often from piers, jetties, cliffs and bridges,’ the coastguard said on Facebook.

‘Changing tides and water depth, submerged items and cold water shock can cause death or life-changing injuries.

‘Submerged hazards like rocks and metalwork may not be visible, and water may be shallower than it seems. Also, once in the water, it may be impossible to get out.’

Between 2004 and 2008, 12 people died and 127 people were injured after tombstoning, according to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).

Those who died included young and older fathers and at least three teenagers.

In 41 of the most serious cases, the charity’s experts said 85% involved men and more than half were teenagers. Spinal and limb injuries were the most common, both reported in about two in 10 non-fatal incidents.

Carlene McAvoy, senior policy manager at RoSPA, told Metro.co.uk: ‘Tombstoning may seem like an exciting and adrenaline-fuelled activity, but it is extremely dangerous and can lead to severe, life-threatening consequences.

‘It’s crucial to understand the risks before taking the leap into the unknown. If you’re still drawn to the thrill, consider coasteering as a safer, yet equally enjoyable, alternative.’

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: ‘Selsey RNLI lifeboat and Selsey and Littlehampton Coastguard Rescue Team assisted South Central Ambulance Service with a medical incident at Pagham Beach.

‘The alarm was raised Tuesday 27 August at 5.30pm. The individual was recovered into the care of the ambulance service.’

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