Pub tells teens not to jump from jetty into river

A pub said while it has tried to manage the safety of teenagers jumping into a river from its jetty it has made the decision that it "has to stop".

Coldham Hall Tavern in Surlingham, Norfolk, which is positioned on the River Yare, said it had conversations about how to safely manage teenagers jumping into the river.

Despite asking for the teenagers to be supervised by parents, the pub said this has "not been acknowledged" and some young people had damaged boats by using them to climb out of the water.

It said: "We are not out of spoil anyone's fun and we understand the draw of jumping in the river in the heat of the summer. But ultimately we have to think about everyone's safety."

In a post on social media, the pub said: "We are sure you have read about the drowning of a teenager in the river at Beccles, it was a tragedy and our thoughts and condolences go out to his family and friends.

"The tidal currents are very strong on our stretch of river and with the added risk of underwater obstacles and weeds we do not want a repeat of what has happened to this poor boy and his family.

"Last year alone, there was four drownings on the Norfolk Broads and we would hate for it to happen on our watch."

The body of a boy was recovered on Wednesday after emergency services were called to Beccles Quay, off Fen Lane, just before 19:30 BST, when the boy had failed to resurface after entering the River Waveney with friends.

The Broads Authority who oversees the River Yare, which is part of The Broads, said it does not recommend people enter the water unless they were taking part in an organised event.

It said: "Although the full circumstances surrounding the [Beccles] incident are not yet clear, it is another devastating reminder of the dangers posed by our waterways.

"We urge everyone to always stop and assess the risks posed by intentionally entering the water.

"This also includes being aware of the significant dangers posed by jumping in from bridges, boats or other structures."

It advises people who find themselves in difficulty in the water to follow the Royal National Lifeboat Institution's advice to control your breathing and lean back in the water spreading your arms and legs wide.

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