A man seen jumping from Llangollen’s historic bridge has sadly died. Following searches of the River Dee, a 46-year-old man was located.
He was taken to Wrexham Maelor Hospital where he later passed away. The man’s family and the coroner have been informed.
North Wales Police (NWP) said the circumstances are still being investigated. The force said will be working with local councils to highlight the dangers of jumping from Llangollen ’s 16th century bridge, a long-held summer tradition regarded as a dangerous rite of passage.
Police were alerted to the most recent incident on Castle Street at 8.16pm on Friday, July 11. It followed witnesses reporting seeing a man jump from the bridge.
Local people said a major emergency service response was launched with police, fire service and ambulance vehicles in the Denbighshire town.
Inspector Joseph Dunn of the NWP Conwy & Denbigh Rural policing team said his thoughts are with the man’s family and friends. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
He added: “I would like to thank officers, our emergency service partners, and the assisting public for their response to this incident.
“As a policing team, we are aware of safety concerns locally regarding diving off the bridge.
“Whilst this is not a criminal offence, we will continue to work with Denbighshire County Council, Llangollen Town Council, and other partners to highlight the dangers to the general public, and officers will continue to advise and warn individuals intending to jump from the bridge of the dangers of doing so.”
Successive heatwaves have brought huge crowds to Llangollen in the hope of cooling off next to the river Dee. The town’s revamped Riverside area has been particularly popular.