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Torquay cliff-climbing teens 'close to disaster' Torquay cliff-climbers looked 'close to disaster'
(7 days later)
Teenagers spotted clambering over a cliff about 30ft (9m) above sea level were "close to disaster". People spotted climbing up a cliff about 30ft (9m) above sea level appeared "close to disaster".
Holidaymaker Seth Richards photographed the group in Torquay, Devon, on Wednesday. One bystander said they were "risking their lives", but the group told the BBC they were experienced climbers and were deep water soloing.
"I just couldn't believe the stupidity of it and how they were prepared to risk their lives like that," he said. The popular spot called London Bridge in Torquay, Devon, is a well-tested area, according to one local coasteering company.
The RNLI said cliffs could be "unstable and dangerous", and warned people to not climb on them unless an expert had approved it first. The RNLI warned not to climb on cliffs unless an expert had approved it first.
Mr Richards said: "One slip and they could very easily have plunged off the rocks and been injured or even killed. Seth Richards, who photographed the group from the top of the cliffs, said it looked "dangerous and crazy".
"They were close to disaster. The water didn't appear very high. However, Seb Flynn said he and his friends had been climbing for years and there was no danger of hitting the rocks.
"I think the tide was out because the tide line was exposed high on the rocks. Deep water soloing is a form of climbing that relies on the water below to stop people getting hurt if they fall.
"It looked very dangerous. It's crazy," he said. Ziggy Austin, from Rock Solid Coasteering which is registered with the National Coasteering Charter, said he was not aware of anyone in south Devon being injured while climbing in this format.
The RNLI added it would always advise those wishing to try climbing or coasteering to use a registered National Coasteering Charter (NCC) provider. However, the area can be dangerous at times, with two boys being rescued from the same spot on Saturday after getting into trouble on the rocks.
An RNLI crew member climbed up the rocks to reach them before they were winched up to a coastguard helicopter.