RGP warns against ‘free running’ after teen sustains serious injuries

The Royal Gibraltar Police have warned against the dangers of 'free running' or Parkour after a local teenager was admitted into the Intensive Care Unit after sustaining serious injuries at the weekend.

In a statement, a spokesman for the RGP said officers were called to Reclamation Road on Friday night after a member of the public reported that a man had fallen almost seven metres from the Zoca Flank wall.

“On police arrival, they found a 19-year-old local male lying on the floor, who was conscious, but was having difficulty breathing,” the police said.

“He was then taken to the A & E Department of Saint Bernard’s Hospital where doctors found he had multiple fractures, including a fractured skull and a punctured lung.”

“He was then transferred to the Intensive Care Unit, where he is currently stable.”

Witnesses told the police that the man was practising “free running” when he slipped and fell from Zoca Flank wall, the police spokesman said.

The teenager managed to grab a tree branch on his way down, lessening the impact of the fall.

The news comes after RGP officers reported another sighting of youngsters practising the controversial sport on Sunday at Rosia Bay.

Also known as “Parkour,” the sport involves navigating urban spaces by climbing, jumping, balancing and running through buildings.

Experts say that those taking up the craze are risking their lives for social media glory, the spokesman said.

“Young people often think they’re invincible and don’t think through the potential consequences of their actions,” the RGP spokesman added.

“It is clear that there could have been a very different outcome – he could have killed himself and whilst doing so, could have also caused injuries to pedestrians below.”

“This sport is obviously now being practiced by persons in Gibraltar, so we would like to raise awareness as to the danger to those who take part in the activity and, potentially, to innocent passers-by.”