Rescue op for teens in danger after they went 'tombstoning'

A MAJOR rescue was launched when two teens got into trouble after ‘tombstoning’ near a North Wales castle.

- Steve Bagnall

One became cragfast on rocks under Criccieth Castle, while another was waist deep in water who called police on 999.

Coastguard rescue teams, North Wales Police, lifeboat crews, the fire service, ambulance service, Aberglaslyn Mountain Rescue Team and a Coastguard helicopter were scrambled to the scene on Monday night.

People have been warned of the dangers of tombstoning - a high-risk, activity where people jump or dive from height into water, following the rescue.

A Criccieth Lifeboat statement said: “At 9.06pm on Monday evening (1.6.25) both Lifeboats from Criccieth's RNLI Lifeboat Station launched immediately following reports of a youth stuck on cliffs beneath Criccieth Castle.

“The youth had been part of a larger group who were tomb-stoning from boulders, prior to climbing onto a higher ledge and being unable to climb down.

“Another youth, who'd tried to help, was assisted out of the water suffering from the effects of the cold.