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Base jumper: Let us use QEII Bridge

The QEII Bridge - would you want to jump off this? Picture: Nick Johnson
The QEII Bridge - would you want to jump off this? Picture: Nick Johnson
Base jumper. Picture courtesy UK Pro BASE
Base jumper. Picture courtesy UK Pro BASE

A base jumper has called on officials at the QEII Bridge to consider allowing adrenaline junkies access to it.

Dave Moore, 39, has put forward the idea of controlled access to the Dartford Crossing after lifeboat crews were called to a suspected base jump on April 3.

But nothing was found after an hour-long search by crews following the call at 7.45pm.

Now Mr Moore, who has 400 jumps under his belt, says managed access to the QE II bridge could open up the opportunity to experienced jumpers to use the crossing in the early hours of the morning.

The 39-year-old, who is a member of the UK Pro BASE team, said: "This removes the problem of false alarms to all the emergency services and makes it vastly safer for the jumpers by removing the need for stealth and speed. A radical idea maybe, but not unique or impossible."

But the Highways Agency said it would be strongly against any type of activity.

A spokesman said: "Pedestrians are not allowed on the bridge. It is an offence under the Dartford Crossing Act.

"We would not condone any action that was judged to be at risk to others. We operate and maintain our network to provide a safe and reliable network for drivers. Anything that might challenge this we certainly would not condone."

A spokesman for Essex Police, who are responsible for policing the bridge, said: "Pedestrians are prohibited access to the QE II Bridge which runs over the Thames between Essex and Kent. Base jumping off it is illegal and we are strongly against this activity from this or any other bridge."

In 2006 a man was killed base jumping from a 460ft pylon in Swanscombe after his parachute failed to open.

Do you remember the base jumper that took the plunge off the M2 motorway bridge? Refresh your memory here>>>>

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