The death of an 18-year-old Scottish man in a flooded quarry is
being linked to the “ice bucket challenge.”
Cameron Lancaster, of Burntisland, Fife, died Sunday. Emergency
services — Police Scotland, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, and the
Scottish Ambulance Service — were called to Preston Hill Quarry near
Inverkeithing after he disappeared at around 5 p.m. His body was recovered at
around 9 p.m. after four hours underwater.
In a statement, Lancaster’s family said: “Cameron died in a tragic
accident. His death is such a great loss. During his short life, he touched so
many people with his friendliness, kindness and thoughtful generosity of
spirit. He will be hugely missed by his family and friends. The family are
finding it hard to come to terms with this sudden loss and would ask for
privacy.”
Although the exact circumstances of Lancaster’s death are yet to
be established, locals say youths have been “tomb-stoning” into the quarry in a
new take on the “ice bucket challenge,” which has gone viral recently. Usually
participants are drenched in freezing buckets of water for charity.
Local councillor Alice McGarry said: “There are rumors and
speculation that this tragedy is linked to the ice bucket challenge. Some
children have been jumping off the cliffs at the quarry. They have always done
that, but it seems there has been a recent increase because of this challenge.
There is no confirmation at this stage, but that is what we think has happened.
I saw a video of another boy jumping from one of the edges last week so this
could be related.”
Wilma Sutherland, 41,
told The Independent: “I asked my son who’s 15 if he had heard
anything, and he told me that a young guy had taken part in the ice bucket
challenge and then jumped in the quarry and didn’t come up. It’s a popular spot
for swimming, and I’ve seen lots of teenagers jumping in.”
A police spokesman said: “Inquiries are under way to establish the
full circumstances of what happened, and Police Scotland’s thoughts are with
the family.”
The ice bucket challenge started as a way to raise money for motor
neuron disease. Thousands of people including celebrities such as Victoria
Beckham, President George W. Bush, and many others, though critics have claimed most participants simply want to
take part without donating money.
Ironically the co-founder of the ALS ice
bucket challenge, Corey Griffin, drowned
following a diving accident on Aug. 16.
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