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Authorities issue warning after video captures teen's horror fall at Jump Rock

Alarming footage of a teen launching himself from a tree and plummeting 25m before landing on his back at Sydney’s notorious Jump Rock has sparked fresh warnings for thrillseekers.

A shocking video has emerged of a youth plummeting 25m - out of control - from a towering tree at notorious Jump Rock on Sydney Harbour.

The video, posted to the Creatures of Manly Facebook page, purports to show the youth deliberately jumping from close to the top of the tree on top of the 10m cliff face near Manly.

But he clips a number of branches on the way down, sending him into an uncontrolled spin that ends with him hitting the water backfirst.

About a dozen other young people can been seen standing on Jump Rock urging the young man to jump, with a five-second countdown.

The video cuts off just seconds after the male comes back to the surface. A young woman can be heard on the video saying “You guys are f***king stupid”.

People still leap from Jump Rock in Spring Cove despite the installation of steel safety fencing. Picture: Toby Zerna
People still leap from Jump Rock in Spring Cove despite the installation of steel safety fencing. Picture: Toby Zerna

As the weather heats up, authorities are warning thrillseekers to stay away from Jump Rock.

In a statement, Northern Beaches Council said to support the safety of the community, it had been working closely with police and other agencies to discourage people from jumping from coastal ledges.

A youth (centre) can be seen tumbling from the top of a tree into water at Jump Rock in Manly in the still from the video. Picture: Facebook/Creatures of Manly
A youth (centre) can be seen tumbling from the top of a tree into water at Jump Rock in Manly in the still from the video. Picture: Facebook/Creatures of Manly

“In this location, council has installed and monitors the maintenance of fences and signage to support this goal and has also requested media and web platforms like Google numerous times to not disclose locations like this that put people at risk.”

Despite numerous signs warning for people not to jump from the cliff and barricades to try and prevent them from accessing the area, Jump Rock continues to attract hundreds of people each year.

Jump Rock is a popular thrillseeking site at Manly. Picture: Toby Zerna
Jump Rock is a popular thrillseeking site at Manly. Picture: Toby Zerna
Jump Rock at Manly has been an attraction for decades. Picture: Brad Hunter
Jump Rock at Manly has been an attraction for decades. Picture: Brad Hunter
Jump Rock at Manly. Picture: Toby Zerna
Jump Rock at Manly. Picture: Toby Zerna

There have been a number of serious injuries at the site over the years. Emergency services were called to Jump Rock in December 2023, when a 15-year-old boy broke his ankle after jumping feet first into shallow water at low tide.

And in December 2019, a woman, 24, suffered suspected spinal injuries when she landed awkwardly after leaping off Jump Rock.

A woman, 24, suffered suspected spinal injuries after landing awkwardly below Jump Rock in December 2023. Picture: Facebook.
A woman, 24, suffered suspected spinal injuries after landing awkwardly below Jump Rock in December 2023. Picture: Facebook.

Over the years, the council, and the former Manly Council (before it was amalgamated) installed, in 2007, 3m steel fencing and warning signs on the cliff edge to discourage people from leaping into the Harbour.

This only saw thrillseekers start leaping from the top of the fence.

In 2009, the council also briefly considered demolishing the rock platform altogether, but decided it was inappropriate.

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/manly-daily/authorities-issue-warning-after-video-captures-teens-horror-fall-at-jump-rock/news-story/eccc8f65a94e1a88b861afd63eeae75e