Air ambulances land at Durdle Door after three people hurt themselves jumping off cliff

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Beach-goers were crammed together to make room for air ambulances to land at Durdle Door in Dorset yesterday after four people injured themselves jumping off cliffs into the sea.  

The four unidentified jumpers vaulted from the top of the ancient limestone arch, which reaches 200ft at its highest point, and are in critical condition, according to Dorset Police. 

Images from the scene show a mass of sun-seekers crammed into one area, near the only available exit, as they try to vacate the area as the air ambulance lands.  

Despite initially claiming that only three people were hurt jumping off the famous archway, it emerged last night that the figure is one higher.   

People packed the beach from side to side despite police chiefs earlier threatening to impose fines on those meeting in groups of more than two and flouting social distancing rules before the planned easing date on Monday. 

HM Coastguard and the RNLI are helping to clear the area after police were called at around 3.45pm.

Chief Inspector Claire Phillips, of Dorset Police, said: ‘We have had to close the beach at Durdle Door to allow air ambulances to land. As a result, we are evacuating the beach and the surrounding cliff area. 

‘I am urging people to leave the area to enable emergency services to treat the injured people.’

Piers Morgan called the scenes at Durdle Door ‘Total insanity’ while other social media users criticised the government’s early relaxation of lockdown, calling it a ‘sham’. 

Another Twitter user wrote: ‘People are absolute morons. Some of these people will be sending their kids to school on Monday to be taught by my loved ones (or by me in 2 weeks). I am livid! This is what happens when you ease lockdown early.’ 

The injuries at Durdle Door came shortly after England’s deputy chief medical officer pleaded with Britons ‘not to tear the pants out of’ the loosened lockdown when more freedoms are granted on Monday.  

Professor Jonathan Van-Tam warned that abusing new liberties would fuel the spread of infection and said that the lifting of curbs should be treated as if gently lifting the lid on a coiled spring – ‘painstakingly’ slow.

The top scientific adviser said the country was at a ‘very dangerous moment’ in the crisis and gave his colourful instruction to the public as thousands of sun-seekers packed on to beaches to bask in scorching weather.

It comes as official mobility data shows the number of people venturing out to parks has increased far above pre-lockdown levels as people look to socialise in outdoor spaces.

Speaking beside Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden at the daily Downing Street briefing, he reminded people of how rapidly the disease can spread throughout the population. 

Ahead of next week’s easing of restrictions, Prof Van-Tam said: ‘This is a dual responsibility here of government to go slowly and carefully and to take the advice from the scientists, of the scientists to watch this whole thing very closely over the next few weeks and of the public in general to actually follow the guidance.

‘Don’t tear the pants out of it and don’t go further than the guidance actually says.’ 

It came after restless Britons yesterday brushed aside warnings from police and scientists and were tempted outdoors by baking temperatures, which climbed to highs of 82F (28C). 

At the daily Covid-19 press conference held from Number 10 on day 68 of lockdown:

• Mr Dowden confirmed a further 215 more Covid-19 deaths, taking the official number of coronavirus victims to 38,376 – but it is the lowest Saturday total since lockdown began; 
• The minister announced groups of up to six people from different households will be able to exercise together from Monday;
• Prof Van-Tam said there are ‘slight differences’ in track and trace systems across the devolved nations but he had ‘no real worries or doubts’ that it will work smoothly;
• The expert said he had noticed ‘some increase’ in coronavirus cases in the past few days but urged Britons to look at the downward trend;
• In answer to a question at the briefing about Dominic Cummings, Professor Van-Tam said: ‘In my opinion the rules are clear and they have always been clear. In my opinion they are for the benefit of all. In my opinion they apply to all’;
• But remarks from three experts on the Government’s Sage advisory committee have each warned that lifting the lockdown too quickly is risky and endangering public health;
• Thousands of sunbathers were forced to cram together at Durdle Door yesterday as air ambulance helicopters were called to reports of three people seriously injured after jumping off cliffs into the sea. 

 

From Monday, groups of up to six people will be allowed to meet both in public spaces and in private gardens, where they can even enjoy barbecues. 

But Boris Johnson’s preemptive announcement of the loosening last Thursday has already spurred a wave of revelry across the country.  

Police chiefs have warned their officers face an uphill struggle to enforce the existing rules this weekend, but have attempted to stamp out mass flouting by threatening to impose fines. 

The current lockdown allows the public to travel to beauty spots to sunbathe with members of their household, or to meet one person from another household at a two-metre distance. 

Yet scenes at bustling seaside hotspots, especially along the south coast, showed large groups sprawling on the sand and pitching up tents from early this morning. 

This evening, following alarming pictures of crammed beaches and parks, the government begged Britons not to take a mile when it gives an inch more freedom.

Prof Van-Tam told the press conference that the lockdown easing must go ‘painstakingly’ slowly, adding: ‘The scientists will continue to give that advice to the Government. No apologies for that, we will absolutely continue to do that.’

Referring back to when levels of the virus were higher, he said at that point he had noted it was a very dangerous moment.

He added: ‘I believe this is also a very dangerous moment. We have to get this right.’ 

Compliance with the curbs frayed further on the 68th day of lockdown as three of the nation’s top scientists – all on the government’s Sage panel of experts steering the crisis response – voiced concerns that restrictions were being lifted ‘too early’.

Prof Peter Horby this morning lined up behind Sir Jeremy Farrar and Prof John Edmunds to break ranks and caution that measures were being relaxed when the infection rate was still not low enough.

The ‘R’ reproduction rate sits just below one between 0.7 and 0.9, and the government announced there were 215 new Covid-19 deaths yesterday, following a pattern of decline.

Ministers are trying to juggle both keeping the R number below 1 – to extinguish the spread of infection – and fire up the economy and return to normal life. 

Surges in travel have been recorded as the lockdown is tentatively eased, and traffic was pictured on busy motorways surrounding coastal towns – backed up by TomTom congestion data which plotted upticks from last week.

Seaside car parks were also rammed as beach-goers grabbed their towels and headed on to the sand.  

Bars lining the beaches served takeaway drinks to thirsty Britons after being shuttered for most of lockdown.

Supermarkets reported last night that shoppers were already spending record sums on sausages, beer, wine and ice cream in anticipation of weekend barbecues and picnics. 

Scorching temperatures hit highs of 81.5F (27.5C) in Kinlochewe in the Scottish Highlands, which basked in warmer weather than Morocco. 

London’s Heathrow recorded highs of 78F (25.7) and Bude in Cornwall saw the mercury climb to 77 (25.3). 

Police chiefs were braced for mass flouting yesterday and warned their officers faced an impossible situation of trying to force the public to comply with existing rules while knowing many of these curbs are set to be dropped on Monday. 

Dorset yesterday saw thousands flock to its sun-kissed beaches, with Bournemouth and Durdle Door overrun with people.

Chief Constable James Vaughan said yesterday: ‘Despite the ongoing lockdown measures, we are experiencing a high volume of visitors to Dorset and this is in part due to the beautiful weather we are experiencing.

‘However, what is apparent is that in some locations social distancing cannot be adhered to because of the sheer number of people there. The message from Dorset Police and our partner agencies is that if an area looks too busy, please go home or elsewhere.

‘The Prime Minister has announced further relaxation of the rules from Monday 1 June and this will see more people meeting up outside and in private gardens. 

‘This will be welcome news to many families and friends, but please be mindful that we all need to stay alert and play our part to prevent more people from becoming infected or dying from this terrible virus.’

Other police chiefs took aim at the PM for casting officers into the lurch by announcing the easing of lockdown early. 

Northumbria’s Labour Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness said: ‘The PM must have known he was going to create a situation that is difficult to police. The messaging looks like it was rushed forward to help ministers in a difficult position.’

Anthony Stansfeld, the Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, said: ‘People should obey the rules – things are only just beginning to open up, so please don’t pre-empt them. 

‘All the relaxation of lockdown is being carefully timed by the Government’s chief scientists for good reason.

‘It’s far better if people wait and do things at the proper time, so please don’t jump the gun. A bit more freedom is coming on Monday, so I urge everyone to be patient.’

Merseyside Police warned that people would be fined if they turned up to parks and beaches in large groups across the city this weekend.

Superintendent Jonathan Davies said: ‘I know people will be tempted to get outside. This is a reminder that the rules on spending time with only one other person from another household remains in place this weekend.’

There are also warnings from forces in UK holiday destinations, as it was revealed that 38 per cent of lockdown breach fines handed out on last bank holiday weekend were for overnight stays, including people using camper fans and second homes.  

The message from police to stick to the current rules was bolstered by the interventions from the Sage scientists, who were squeamish about the lockdown being lifted too fast.

Prof Horby, chairman of the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG) and a Sage member, said Britain could not afford to lose control of the virus.

He told BBC Radio 4 this morning: ‘We really can’t go back to a situation where we’ve got the numbers of cases and deaths we’ve had in the past.’  

Labour’s shadow health minister Justin Madders said: ‘It is crucial for all of us that the Government gets this right. 

‘Easing lockdown must be done as safely as possible. It will only work if there are effective, flexible and local systems in place that have the confidence of the public to ensure that we avoid a second peak of infections.’ 

London Mayor Sadiq Khan also waded in and said he was ‘deeply concerned we are now rushing too fast to lift lockdown measures’.  

Sir Jeremy, director of the Wellcome Trust and Sage member said in a Twitter post that he ‘agreed with John’ on the clear science advice, appearing to reference Sage colleague Professor John Edmunds, who said on Friday the Government was ‘taking risks’ by relaxing measures from Monday.

Sir Jeremy also said the newly-introduced NHS test and trace system needed to be ‘fully working’ before measures were eased.

He wrote: ‘Covid-19 spreading too fast to lift lockdown in England. Agree with John & clear science advice.

‘TTI (test, trace and isolate) has to be in place, fully working, capable dealing any surge immediately, locally responsive, rapid results & infection rates have to be lower. And trusted.’ 

A whistleblower told the Daily Mail that the government’s track and trace system, designed to keep the UK out of lockdown, is in chaos –  chaotically recruited, ill-prepared and, in many cases, left idle for days at a time . 

‘There’s absolutely no chance it’s ready,’ the 38-year-old whistleblower from Manchester said. ‘If it does happen [this week]… there will be catastrophic and continued failings from that day onwards. 

‘This is serious – it’s a pandemic, and lives are at risk. I’m genuinely worried about how we are about to be set loose on the public’.

Prof Horby also expressed serious doubts about the contact-tracing system, which has been heralded as the ticket out of blanker lockdown. He said: ‘As we know, it’s not yet fully operational so that is where the risk lies.’ 

Professor John Edmunds said many experts would ‘prefer’ to see the number of Covid-19 infections drop before measures such as a relaxation on social interaction restrictions were introduced. 

Latest data from the Office for National Statistics suggests there are an estimated 54,000 new coronavirus infections a week in England outside of hospital and care settings, equating to nearly 8,000 per day.

The so-called R value, or reproduction rate, is currently between 0.7 and 0.9, and must remain under one to avoid a rise in infections – a key test on whether lockdown measures should be eased, with the Government stressing the need to avoid a second wave of cases which would threaten to overwhelm the NHS. 

Prof Edmunds, speaking during a Science Media Centre briefing, said the decision to relax certain rules came with a degree of risk.

He said: ‘I think many of us would prefer to see the incidence driven down to lower levels because that would mean we have fewer cases occurring before we relaxed the measures.

‘If we had incidents at a lower level, even if the reproduction level went up a bit, we wouldn’t be in a position where we were overwhelming the health service.

‘I think at the moment with relatively high incidents, relaxing the measures and with an untested track and trace system, I think we are taking some risk here.

‘Even if that risk doesn’t play out and we keep the incidents flat, we’re keeping it flat at quite a high level. The Government has launched its track and trace system designed to limit the spread of infection by ordering contacts of those who become infected with coronavirus to isolate

Prof Edmunds, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, supported the decision to essentially substitute a ‘blanket approach’ to containing the virus with a targeted one, adding it saw a return to ‘some level of normality’.

He added: ‘None of us think, who have looked at this in any great detail, that that will be sufficient to be able to hold the reproduction number below one.

‘We all think we will have to have quite significant numbers of wider social distance measures in place.

‘The basic reproduction number for this virus is perhaps three, maybe even more, so we cannot relax our guard by very much at all.’

He said there was a need to try and get the economy restarted, to get people back to work and to provide a boost to people’s mental health.

But he said even if track and trace kept the R-value at about one, it would still result in around 8,000 community infections a day in England.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman defended the decision to announce the change on Thursday, saying: ‘We’ve said that wherever possible we would give a period of notice in advance of changes being made, ideally 48 hours or more.

‘We’re enormously grateful for the efforts of the British public in sticking by the rules and getting the infection rate down and that does mean that from June 1 we will be able to allow people to have some more social contact in a safe and socially-distanced way. I’m sure that members of the public will show common sense.’

Speaking in response to the PM’s announcement on Thursday that restrictions would be changed on Monday, former Tory minister Tobias Ellwood said last night: ‘The nation has been incredibly disciplined to date.

‘Is it wise to tell the public that they can have barbecues with friends from Monday before a sunny weekend?’  

A Home Office source also warned last night that if people breached the guidance this weekend, they risked putting lives in danger by reversing the progress that had been made in tackling the virus. 

There is also the possibility for confusion as while Wales also does not relax its lockdown rules until Monday, Scotland did so from yesterday.  

Four nations, four lockdowns: How different rules now apply in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (so who’s following what science?) 

ByJack Maidment, Deputy Political Editor For Mailonline 

Long-awaited changes are being made to the UK’s coronavirus lockdown with the four Home Nations now adopting different approaches to the loosening of draconian rules. 

Boris Johnson set out his plans which mostly only relate to England at a Downing Street press conference last night with those changes coming into force on Monday. 

But more limited changes in Scotland came into force yesterday while Wales and Northern Ireland are also doing their own thing. 

Below is a breakdown of how different rules apply in different parts of the country. 

ENGLAND 

Perhaps the most eye-grabbing change announced by Mr Johnson last night was that as of Monday groups of up to six people will be allowed to meet up outdoors. 

Social distancing rules to stay at least two metres apart remain in place but the six people can be from different households. 

This is a much more flexible approach than has been taken in Scotland and Wales. 

These group gatherings can take place either outdoors in a public park or within a private garden but people have been told to be careful if guests need to travel through a house to get to a garden. Barbecues are allowed. 

England’s new rules mean there is no limit on how far people can travel from their home. 

Meanwhile, people can also exercise as much as they want – a change which was announced by Mr Johnson in his first wave of loosening. 

When it comes to shops, all non-essential premises will be allowed to start reopening from June 15. That means most High Street stores like clothes shops and shoe shops. 

Other businesses, such as pubs, hairdressers and cinemas will have to wait until July before they can reopen, the Government has previously said. 

Primary schools and nurseries will begin their phased reopening from June 1 while some year 10 and 12 students will be able to return to secondary schools from June 15.   

SCOTLAND 

Nicola Sturgeon’s lockdown changes came into force as of yesterday, in time for what is expected to be a sunny weekend with highs of up to 80F. 

The First Minister’s plans allow groups of up to eight people to meet up outside. 

However, they must all be from just two households. Similar to in England, these gatherings can either take place in private gardens or in outdoor spaces like parks.  

One difference is that people are not supposed to go into someone else’s house – even if it that is the only way to get to the garden. 

Social distancing rules remain at the two metre figure while there is no legal limit on travel away from home. 

However, the Scottish government has encouraged people to ‘stay local’ which means not travelling more than approximately five miles. 

Ms Sturgeon has advised that if the distance travelled to meet someone means that you have to use their bathroom, then ‘perhaps you shouldn’t be doing it’. 

People in Scotland are also allowed to exercise as much as they want outside. 

Scotland’s easing will enable people to visit garden centres and play some sports where social distancing can easily be maintained, such as golf and tennis. 

There is less clarity north of the border on when non-essential shops could reopen with the Scottish government yet to set a date for the return of the High Street. 

Scotland’s education plan is also much more cautious than England’s with schools not expected to start reopening until August 11. 

In Scotland, there is no set timeline for when more measures might be lifted. 

WALES 

First Minister Mark Drakeford set out his plans for lockdown loosening this morning. 

Outdoor gatherings will be permitted from Monday but only with people from two different households. 

However, the number of people who can meet up outdoors in a socially distanced way is unlimited. 

The Welsh plan also allows people to use gardens for their gatherings although like in Scotland people are not allowed to go into other people’s homes. 

In Wales there is a broad five mile limit on travel away from home although the Welsh government has stressed travel should remain ‘local’ and not generally further than five miles, seemingly giving some room for interpretation. 

People in Wales are also allowed to exercise as much as they want outside but no date has yet been set for the return of non-essential shops. 

However, Mr Drakeford said yesterday that non-essential retail businesses that can comply with social distancing rules should start to prepare to reopen over the next three weeks.

Mr Drakeford said a decision on whether they will reopen will be taken at the next review of lockdown measures on June 18 and will depend on scientific and medical evidence.

No date has yet been set for the reopening of schools. 

NORTHERN IRELAND 

Northern Ireland was the first of the four Home Nations to move on loosening rules relating to socialising. 

Groups of between four and six people are allowed to meet outdoors. 

They can all be from different households and social distancing at two metres must be stuck to.

Gardens are allowed to be used for those gatherings but access to another person’s house is not permitted. 

People can travel as far as they want from their home – just like in England – with no restrictions on the amount of outdoor exercise allowed. 

Some non-essential shops are expected to begin reopening from June 15. 

Pending the country’s rate of transmission remaining below one, a host of further restrictions are set to be eased in Northern Ireland on June 8. 

That could include the reopening of outdoor sports facilities, car showrooms and some non-essential retail stores.

Outdoor weddings with a maximum of 10 people are also set to be allowed and hotels will be able to start taking forward bookings at their own risk.

However, there is a longer wait for schools with pupils not expected to return to the classroom until the new academic year begins in September.

The ONLY way to picnic this summer: Scientists say groups must sit in a hexagon, pentagon or parallelogram two metres apart eating their own food… as they warn barbecues are still not safe

By Connor Boyd Health Reporter For Mailonline 

Groups should picnic in the shape of a parallelogram, hexagon or pentagon if they want to meet together while still maintaining social distancing and good hygiene, experts have said.

From Monday, up to six people will be allowed to meet both in public spaces and in private gardens in England for the first time in two months.

There are concerns the UK’s stringent two-metre contact gap will be hard to abide by when hordes of people descend on beaches and parks after being confined to their homes for all but essential travel since March 24. 

But experts from Oxford University said putting six people in a hexagon or pentagon could be a safe and space-efficient way to adhere to the rules and maintain good hygiene.

Mathematician and BBC TV personality Bobby Seagull has suggested sitting in a series of triangles to form a parallelogram.

Separate experts have advised against barbecues because sharing food and cooking utensils could exacerbate the spread of the virus – despite the Government telling Britons they are allowed. 

Professor Sally Bloomfield, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said picnics were much safer as long as people brought their own food and cutlery. 

Jason Lotay, professor of pure mathematics at Oxford University, said putting six people in a hexagon, each with a two-metre distance between them, was probably the best option. It would also require just 10.4 square metres of space.

The maximum distance between two people would be four metres at the shape’s widest point, while the average distance from person to person would be around 2.29m, according to the mathematician.

If Britons wanted to take up even less room, then one person could go in the middle to form a pentagon. This would require a smaller area of just 9.5 square metres.

But, despite taking up less space overall, Professor Lotay warned groups would actually be further apart from their friends, with an average 2.72m between them.

Professor Lotay told The Telegraph: ‘Of course, things are much better for the person in the middle, who is 2m from everyone, but worse for everyone else, who now have an average of 2.86m to anyone else.

‘I would probably say that efficiency is given by the total area required and minimising the maximum distance between any two people, in which case the pentagram model is better.

‘However, as I say, it means that one person gets preferential treatment, and it is worse for everyone else.’

The UK Government has insisted the public must keep a two-metre contact gap from people from other households, despite the science about its effectiveness being murky.

It is double the one metre gap recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO), which is the distance permitted in Hong Kong, Singapore, France and China.

Australia, Germany and the Netherlands recommend 1.5 metres.

The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) advice is that there is a ‘considerable reduction’ in risk at a two-metre distance, compared to a smaller gap. But it is not based on any scientific research.

Mathematician Bobby Seagull, who hosts the BBC Two series, Monkman & Seagull’s Genius Adventures, said the most efficient way to keep people the correct distance apart is to form a series of triangles. When a group of six people do this it forms a ‘parallelogram’.

Mr Seagull said his solution was the best way to picnic without disrupting others who are also trying to social distance in busy parks moving forward.  

Ahead of the next wave of lockdown loosening on Monday, thousands of sun-seekers are expected to jump the gun and arrange gatherings at parks and beaches as temperatures soar to highs of 82F. 

Supermarkets reported last night that shoppers were already spending record sums on sausages, beer, wine and ice cream in anticipation of weekend barbecues and picnics.

The steady lifting of draconian restrictions kicks in from next week, but last night restless rule-breakers spurred on by the announcement were pictured together in outdoor spots across the country.

Police chiefs complained their officers face an impossible situation of trying to force the public to comply with existing rules while knowing many of these curbs are set to be dropped on Monday.

Constables have ordered Britons to obey the lockdown in its current form and not pre-empt Monday’s changes, warning that flouters face fines.

Northumbria’s Labour Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness said: ‘The PM must have known he was going to create a situation that is difficult to police. The messaging looks like it was rushed forward to help ministers in a difficult position.’

Anthony Stansfeld, the Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, said: ‘People should obey the rules – things are only just beginning to open up, so please don’t pre-empt them.

‘All the relaxation of lockdown is being carefully timed by the Government’s chief scientists for good reason.

‘It’s far better if people wait and do things at the proper time, so please don’t jump the gun. A bit more freedom is coming on Monday, so I urge everyone to be patient.’

Merseyside Police warned that people would be fined if they turned up to parks and beaches in large groups across the city this weekend.

Superintendent Jonathan Davies said: ‘I know people will be tempted to get outside. This is a reminder that the rules on spending time with only one other person from another household remains in place this weekend.’

Three of the nation’s top scientists – all on the government’s Sage panel of experts steering the crisis response – have also voiced concerns that lockdown is being lifted ‘too early’.

Prof Peter Horby this morning lined up behind Sir Jeremy Farrar and Prof John Edmunds to break ranks and caution measures were being relaxed when the infection rate was still not low enough.

The ‘R’ reproduction rate sits just below one between 0.7 and 0.9, and the government announced there were 324 new Covid-19 deaths yesterday, following a pattern of decline.

Professor Horby, chairman of the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG) and a Sage member, said Britain could not afford to lose control of the virus.

He told BBC Radio 4 this morning: ‘We really can’t go back to a situation where we’ve got the numbers of cases and deaths we’ve had in the past.’

Speaking about the new test and trace infrastructure, he added: ‘As we know, it’s not yet fully operational so that is where the risk lies.’

It followed representations from Sir Jeremy and Professor Edmunds yesterday.