Kempele closes diving platform after child’s death triggers safety concerns

Kempele municipality in northern Finland has temporarily closed the diving platform at a local swimming quarry after a 14-year-old boy drowned there on 11 July.

The platform, installed to reduce risk-taking by preventing people from jumping from surrounding cliffs, has been taken out of service while authorities assess further safety measures.

“People have started jumping from the quarry walls instead,” said Tuomas Lohi, Kempele’s municipal manager. “That is not the direction we want.”

Lohi said the quarry walls pose a high slip risk and that a failed jump could result in serious injury against rock. Water depth also varies and may appear deeper than it is from above.

The municipality is consulting Finland’s Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes) and the North Ostrobothnia Rescue Department on options including more life rings, floating safety ropes, improved visibility through vegetation clearance, and possibly a pontoon platform at the base of the cliff stairs. Weekend lifeguard supervision is also under review.

Lohi noted that while cliff-jumping incidents have so far been limited since the recent tragedy, he expects normal summer use to resume soon.

A separate adult drowning occurred at the same site last summer.