Although the Cayman Islands’ ruling government does intend to review safety measures and warnings in and around the Pedro bluff area following the deaths of two young men during the Christmas holidays, a government minister said Tuesday he was unsure what additional steps might be taken to prevent individuals from leaping off those cliffs.
Health Minister Mark Scotland, the highest-ranking government member from Bodden Town district, said the administration would put its heads together with the police to try and work out a solution.
“But I’m not sure if we can pass a law that says ‘don’t jump off cliffs’,” Mr. Scotland said Tuesday. “We certainly have concerns and we ask individuals to consider the choices they make. Jumping off a cliff at Pedro bluff … is probably not the best choice.”
The afternoon of 26 December, 16-year-old Justin Henry went missing when he and a friend jumped into the waters off the bluff, which is located on private property near to the historic Pedro St. James Castle tourism site in the district of Bodden Town. Justin’s body was found the next day by marine unit search crews.
Then on New Year’s Day, 21-year-old Adam Rankine leapt from the cliffs. He was reported missing around 4.30pm and his body was found about an hour later.
Police, fire and marine unit rescue crews responded to the scene of each incident and kept up a search until dark fell on 26 December. However, the best efforts of rescue crews could not save either young man.
“By the time police are called … the person is probably already drowned or near drowned,” Mr. Scotland said. “Especially this time of year, when the currents are going like that; its obvious what can happen.”
Mr. Scotland said he understands cliff jumping in the Pedro area has gone on for decades and he knows the children of some local residents who have participated in the activity.
“I think people have done it for a long time,” he said.
Moreover, its not just local residents who are involved in the cliff jumping, Mr. Scotland said. On some tourism sites, such as Trip Advisor, Cayman visitors talk about jumping from the cliffs on Pedro bluff. There is even a Facebook page dedicated to it, he said.
In a September 2010 post from Trip Advisor, a visitor from the United States wrote, “We want to go cliff jumping in Grand Cayman. We heard Pedro St. James is a good place. Can anyone tell us about it or recommend any other cliff jumping areas?
The same poster continues, apparently after making the trip, “Hey everyone – you were right. It was quite harsh. My boyfriend did the jump before me. He got in fine – it’s deep enough. But it’s the part of getting back on shore that was tough. The ironshore is there and it’s really hard to grab anything to get yourself on shore. My boyfriend happened to come in on a bad set of waves. He got really bashed up time after time he failed multiple times to come on shore. My boyfriend panicked and was freaking out. Luckily, a local guy was there showing some girls from NYC how to do it and he was able to assist in saving my boyfriend. After seeing that go down, I decided not to take the chance.”
Another US poster on Trip Advisor noted, from April 2011, “I attempted the jump and fell. 40 feet of ironshore in your body. Friends of mine could not climb back up. Hello Coast Guard. Check it out. I wouldn’t suggest it. I know the Island well myself.”
The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service has said it is possible signs could be put up around the Pedro bluff area to warn people against jumping. A spokesperson said the department has warned the public in that area many times not to engage in such activities.
Mr. Scotland said perhaps it is time for another reminder.
“We are going to implore young people … not to take that kind of risk,” he said. “I really sympathise with the families who have lost their loved ones; especially at this time of year.”
Related Videos
Let’s please keep in mind that cliff jumping and scuba diving are two very different ideas. There is a completely safe place for scuba divers to enter and exit the water at Pedro’s, during a Nor’wester.
The location is at water level and no jump is involved, and many years ago somebody pounded in an old railway spike that you can use to lever yourself out of the water. I’m sure it’s still there.
There is no reason to ban scuba diving at this site just because people are getting hurt jumping from the cliffs.
Seriously?!!!!
So two kids die, do to cliff jumping (poor judgment) and now we are going to put money into finding a way to make pedro more safe.
It’s simple. You put up a sign that says, please do not jump off the cliff. Others have died here.
This is pandering to the public. You cannot protect everyone from everything. Common sense must win out. If it doesn’t. Well, you have accidents. No campaign or iron bars are going to instill common sense into people. I have been to pedro many times. No way I would jump off those cliffs. Because my common sense tells me it’s dangerous and the risks aren’t’ worth the reward.
Signs, no signs, ropes, fences. Kids are going to jump there despite these horrific tragedies.
Find/create a safe jumping spot, a platform, ladders monitored by life guards. Make it a recreation activity.
Arrest anyone jumping anywhere else.
Dear Caymanians,
Swimmers are not the only people using the bluff area. Fishermen use it as well. On January 1st, 2007 I was assigned to the police marine unit. Our trained team of officers received a report that a fisherman has been carried off the iron shore by a wave while fishing. His peer tried to assist him but unable to swim he went for help. The MU response time was only ten minutes to the scene as we were already on patrol on Cayman Protector in the east end area. We arrived on scene and located the man submerged in the water 20 feet from shore, head down. I went into the water after him with assistance from a Caymanian citizen. I immediately opened his airway and began AR. He was pulled onto the deck of Protector and immediately given CPR. We did our best as we did everyday with the resources and training we had. This is not a hero story but we tried to save him!
My point is that Police, DOE, and any other agency working the waters of Cayman, including most dive companies, will always do their best to save a life whenever called upon to do so. However, Pedro bluffs has been in the past and will always be an issue as it is just not safe to swim in that particular area due to current and extreme wave heights. Passing a law will not be enough to stop daring personalities from using the area. Making a restricted area and educating the public that historically this area has claimed lives and tell them exactly just how many lives have been lost in that area over the past 20 years. A co-active approach between the community, Police and the law makers will in my opinion solve the current situation. But, you as the community must teach your all youth that this is an unsafe place to swim and suggest other safe areas to swim. I send my regards to the families who have lost. Best wishes Cayman!
Jer
On Radio Cayman it was suggested there was a haunting situation there and ministers needed to go to the Pedro area and remove the malevolent spirits that were seducing these young people.
I cannot say that I agree with this explanation and believe kids have been jumping off these cliffs for centuries. I has been and always will be dangerous. If you really want to stop it dynamite the cliffs to rubble, there is no other way.
So there is a choice between teaching young people to swim, and generally respect the seas, or…
Big Mac can roll on down to Pedro’s, take out he big ole salt shaker and sprinkle dem duppies away…
Uhm…
These are obviously two tragic cases but it is madness to suggest regulating or banning jumping at Pedro’s. I’ve been there and jumped countless times, and also been there and chosen not to jump many more times when the conditions were rough.
Whilst a sign may help to warn tourists, I doubt there’s a single person in Cayman who doesn’t know of the reputation of Pedro’s. Even without knowing, you only need to look over the edge and observe the current, the waves and the sharp iron shore to know whether conditions are safe or not. Some people unfortunately do foolish things, and no amount of laws can prevent that.