Teenager in critical condition after cliff fall

At 5:40pm on Thursday, August 18, police were informed that a 13-year-old boy fell off a ledge on the cliff edge at Whitley Bay. Officers attended the scene and assisted fellow emergency services in a rescue operation, which involved the boy being taken to hospital for medical attention. The boy's family have been informed and investigations into the circumstances of the incident remain on-going. Officers would like to remind the public to take extra care and be aware of the risks and dangers the coastline can present.

The lifeguard released the following information, including how a second incident took place in the space of 30 minutes.

While out for a walk near to Browns Bay, a Brigade Section Leader became aware of a group of teenagers shouting for help and, on investigation, found that a 13-year-old boy had fallen a distance of around 20 feet, landing on a sea wall at the south side of Bay. The Brigade member gave immediate first aid and stabilised the casualty, whilst asking members of the public to contact Humber Coastguard and Beach Lifeguards at Cullercoats Bay for further assistance. With the Coastguard paging the rest of the team, other Brigade members arrived on scene within 5 minutes of the call and worked with the RNLI Beach Lifeguards and a paramedic from the North East Ambulance Service to care for the casualty who had sustained multiple serious injuries. Further assistance and medical attention was provided by the Great North Air Ambulance, Fire-fighters from the Tyne and Wear Fire & Rescue Service and Northumbria Police. The casualty, who was critically ill, was placed on a Brigade stretcher and carried off the sea wall and to the Air Ambulance which had landed in a private garden on the cliff top at Marconi Point. He was then flown to the RVI for further assessment and treatment.

The casualty was believed to have fallen while trying to climb from the sea wall onto the cliff top of Marconi point, which is between Browns Bay and Cullercoats Bay, and is a popular area for tombstoning. Tombstoning off cliff edges, rocks and piers is a dangerous activity and we would discourage all members of the public from taking part in it given the very real dangers that our coastline poses.

At around 5.45pm, as the incident at Browns Bay was ongoing, Humber Coastguard requested that the Brigade attend an unrelated incident at Cullercoats Bay where RNLI Beach Lifeguards were responding to reports that a man had been found in an unconscious state on the south side of the Bay. Brigade members arrived on scene to find the Lifeguards treating a gentleman who was unconscious and had fallen on rocks, sustaining serious facial injuries. Furthermore, the casualty was also believed to have taken large amounts of drink and drugs. As the casualty was stabilised by the Lifeguards and the Brigade. Blyth Coastguard Rescue Team arrived and set up a Helicopter Landing Site on the boat field, between Cullercoats and Tynemouth Long Sands, for Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 912 from Humberside. The Helicopter had originally been tasked to attend the incident at Browns Bay, but had been diverted to Cullercoats Bay when the Air Ambulance had arrived at the first incident. The Casualty was treated by the paramedic from the Helicopter and then placed on a stretcher and carried to the aircraft which flew him to the RVI for further assessment and treatment.

To have two separate major incidents occur within the space of 30 minutes and within around a quarter of a mile of each other is a very rare event and Brigade members worked in an extremely professional and skilled manner to deal with the challenges they faced. Working with our colleagues from the Coastguard, the RNLI, the North East Ambulance Service, the Great North Air Ambulance, the Tyne & Wear Fire & Rescue Service, and Northumbria Police we were able to ensure that both casualties received appropriate care and were evacuated in a timely manner to receive further support in hospital.

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