Victor Harbor schoolies explains Big4 caravan park roof-diving stunt
A school leaver who jumped off a roof in a shocking stunt caught on video has revealed what he regrets about the move. Warning: Confronting video. Picture: Nine News
Education
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A school leaver who hurled himself off a roof during Schoolies celebrations has warned others against performing dangerous acts for social media, saying he was lucky to escape unharmed.
Video emerged on Tuesday of 18-year-old Jude Lane, who attended Urrbrae Agricultural High School, and a mate performing the life-threatening stunt at BIG4 Breeze Holiday Parks in Port Elliot, on the second night of the three-day festival.
Footage shows the two students on the roof of the toilet block while dozens cheer the boys on from the ground, chanting ‘table, table’.
The pair then hurls themselves off the building and onto a plastic trestle table, but one lands awkwardly on top of the other, knocking him out.
Some bystanders rush to the boy’s aid while others can be seen filming the teen as he is slumped on the ground.
Jude Lane, whose parents say was lucky to escape serious injury or death, has apologised for the pain caused to his friends and family by the reckless stunt.
“I was looking for something to give me a bit of attention at the end of the day ... I was pretty lucky, it could have been a lot worse,” Jude told 9 News.
“It definitely made me feel pretty bad that I’ve put my family and friends in that situation, it’s not a good thing to have done.
“Don’t jump off any roofs. You might think it’s pretty funny, but you don’t want to cause that pain to your friends and family.”
Mr Lane’s parents, Tim and Helen Lane, called the stunt “horrifying”, leaving them with an “anxious wait” as waited to find out if their son was okay.
“It was pretty horrifying, not the kind of thing you want to see your kid doing,” Mr Lane said.
“Clearly it’s a lesson in self control and a bit of restraint.”
SA Ambulance Service arrived at the caravan park about 8pm on Saturday night to find the 18-year-old awake and breathing.
“I remember waking up on the ground with nurses around me asking if I was alright,” Jude said.
A SAAS spokesperson confirmed the teenager had lost consciousness before paramedics arrived and was transported to South Coast District Hospital.
The 18-year-old was discharged the same night.
BIG4 Breeze Holiday Parks and Encounter Youth, the organisation behind the official Schoolies festival in Victor Harbor, declined to comment.
On Tuesday, Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said Schoolies was a “great success” but hit out over the video, lambasting the attention-seeking behaviour of “some” attendees.
“It’s a sad reality and one of the consequences of social media that people are stirred on to do things that are obviously inherently dangerous, because of the perceived opportunities to seek some form of attention,” Comm Stevens said.
“Unfortunately there’s only so much you can do to ensure people make safe and sensible decisions.
“Quite often, bad decisions come from alcohol consumption. But I think overall on Schoolies, it was a pretty successful celebration.”
On Monday, SA Police congratulated this year’s school leavers, noting only one arrest, more than 40 fines – including two for cannabis-related offences – and five traffic infringements.
About 5000 year 12 students attended the festival, with 3000 descending on the event on Friday night.
The single arrest occurred around 7pm on Saturday night.
A 41-year-old man was arrested for property damage after an altercation at the front of the Hotel Crown in Victor Harbor.
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