It is only a matter of time before someone is killed.

Every day dozens of people are risking their lives jumping off piers, sea walls and groynes into the sea in spite of numerous warnings from Coastguards, police, seafront officers, paramedics and councils.

Emergency services and beach officials are having to waste time going out to the thrill-seekers to tell them about the dangers and to keep away. This is time better spent helping people who need emergency help through no fault of their own.

It may just seem like a bit of laugh and it may be easy to dismiss the warnings as coming from killjoys but that is the furthest thing from the truth. The authorities are powerless to stop youngsters risking their lives without adequate laws to prevent them.

Police say even if legislation was passed, it would be hard to enforce. However, more needs to be done to encourage people not carry out such deadly stunts.

If the threat of being killed is not enough to dissuade teenagers, perhaps it is time once again to consider bylaws banning these stunts.

At least that could send out the message that such stunts are not only stupid but illegal. Some law-abiding youths may take note.

Parents must also warn their children not to play dangerous games when they play on the beach, for their own sakes.

Jumpers have died in the past while others have been left permanently disabled.

Teenagers themselves must think about their own actions. They must realise how dangerous it is to jump into the sea without knowing what is underneath.

It would be no laughing matter if one of them was crippled or killed just for an insane game.