Reckless teenagers have been filmed tombstoning into a notorious Scots quarry where several youngsters have lost their lives, with locals describing it as "utter madness".
Prestonhill Quarry - nicknamed as 'death trap quarry' - was swarmed by hundreds of youths on Monday as locals sought refuge from the blistering heat in Fife. Up to 200 people reportedly gathered at the Inverkeithing site to party with alcohol-fuelled BBQs and dozens of cars parked up the Fife Coastal Path.
Terrifying footage given to the Record shows the heart-stopping moment two males jumped from the top of the quarry rock face and hit the water at speed terrifying speed.
The quarry has claimed the lives of three people in recent years. Cameron Lancaster, 18, died while taking part in a charity Ice Bucket Challenge in 2014, as well as eighteen-year-old John McKay in 2015 and Edinburgh teacher Kelda Henderson, 36, who failed to resurface from the water in 2017.
Campaign Action for Preston Hill was launched by relatives of the victims, including Cameron's mum Gillian Barclay, who made a desperate plea for the site to be drained and filled, alongside John Mackay's sister Shannon. Since then a developer as sought to build homes on the site, along with holiday lodges and a café/bistro, but it was rejected by councillors in February following an over all distaste for plans by locals.
The tombstoning stunts seen yesterday at the quarry were described as "utter madness" by one witness. He added: "I was there with the dog last night to get him cooled down. It wasn’t just local teens, there were from out with the area and some were in their 20s.
"I tried to warn them jumping off the rock face but it made no difference."
Local man Rod Lumsden also said: "It's only a matter of time before we are mourning the loss of another kid at the quarry. This place demands to be made safe, if housing ensures that then so be it."
Inflatables, piles of rubbish, bottles, and a t-shirt and bra were seen littering the site this morning following the aftermath of the crowds on Monday. The mess re-sparked contention again over the use of the quarry.
One woman from the area said: "And people don’t want it developed?! I’m sure you’d rather have a nice place to walk round than have to deal with this all the time."
Another responded: "I’d love to see the quarry developed and made safer, but the problem is they want to also build houses and holiday lets all along the coastal path. That’s what most people are opposing."
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "We received a report of youths jumping into the quarry but no criminality was established."
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