15/08/2026
Thank you to all the emergency services.
Dunbar RNLI is urging people to think twice before tombstoning after a teenager was seriously hurt jumping into the harbour from height on Thursday (13 August).
The boy injured his leg after plunging into the water at around 6.30pm. The volunteer crew were about to launch on a training exercise when the alarm was raised.
They launched the inshore D class lifeboat 'David Lauder' and quickly found the boy, who had managed to get himself out of the water, on steps near the harbour entrance.
The volunteer crew assisted paramedics by helping the boy onto the lifeboat and brought him ashore where he was transferred to the waiting ambulance.
Dunbar RNLI lifeboat helm Laura Kirkham said: ‘Tombstoning, or cliff jumping, into the harbour might seem like fun but there’s always a danger of hidden rocks and unknown depths that can result in serious life-changing injuries and even death. As tempting as it is to cool off in hot weather, we’re urging people to think before they jump.
‘The bystanders did the right thing in flagging us down for assistance while waiting for the Scottish Ambulance Service.’
The incident was the second in 24 hours for the Dunbar lifeboat crew and the first for recently passed-out helm Laura. On Wednesday (12 August) the volunteers were paged at 11.15pm by HM Coastguard after a report that someone was in distress in the harbour. After launching and finding nothing untoward the crew was stood down at 12.25am.
Laura added: ‘The few seconds of thrill that come from tombstoning can lead to consequences that last a lifetime, not only for the individual involved but also for their family, friends and those who witness or respond to the incident.’
After handing the casualty over to medics, the volunteer crew returned to their exercise.
Upon competition of the exercise the lifeboat was refuelled and readied for its next emergency.
Crews:
Thursday:
ILB: Laura Kirkham, Andrzej Hajduk, Alex Williams
Tractor/LA/shore crew: Gerard McPhillips, Denholm Horsburgh, Ian Combe, Gina Holt, Kai Lavery, Kayla Rutherford, Jay Kirkland, Ross Hancock
Wednesday:
ILB: Jamie Forrester, Andrzej Hajduk, Alex Williams, Douglas Wight
Tractor/LA/shore crew: David Koch, Ian Wilson, Ian Combe, Denholm Horsburgh, Fiona Kibby, Gary Fairbairn, Gordon Mackay, Alistair Punton, Jodi Fairbairn, Alewyn Rens, Aaron Woods, Eldon Woods, Gina Holt, Ross Hancock.
