Grandpa divers and swimming ban

A group of grandpa divers who regularly jump off a bridge in Tianjin into the Haihe River for exercise and recreation recently made a big splash on Chinese social media after short videos of their “performances” went viral, drawing huge crowds of tourists and prompting some spectators to follow their examples.

The public reveling came to a sudden end when jumping into the river became a safety hazard and several rookies had to be rescued and even sent to hospital. The grandpa divers issued a public notice last Wednesday saying they will no longer perform the stunts and calling for others to also stop.

Then the local authorities said the bridge’s lighting system is in need of renovation, putting an official closure to the matter.

Such is a happy ending for most people, as in the recent past, many of the city’s traffic police, rescuers and even volunteers had to be deployed to the bridge and its nearby areas to keep order and help out in case of emergencies. It’s also fortunate that no casualties or serious injuries occurred during the surge of tourists and rookies attempting the dangerous moves.

Despite the grandpa divers having done it for decades, jumping off a bridge six meters above into the river below is unsafe. Giving advice to those who prefer to swim in natural water bodies, the American Red Cross implores people to “dive only in water clearly marked as safe for diving, at least three meters deep with no underwater obstacles” and “not to enter the water from a height, such as a bridge or boat.”

There are actually signs on the bridge warning people against climbing over the rails, which however had been neglected until now.

On top of potential health hazards for rookie divers such as spinal fractures caused by the impact when hitting the water, collision accidents could happen because the section of Haihe River under the bridge is navigable and may have boats passing by.

For decades, the grandpa divers had taken joy in swimming in the river, and jumping off the bridge perhaps added a little extra fun to their exercise routine as they could make an entrance and show off their flamboyant swimwear and agile body moves.

Tourists also loved the scene, embracing the humorous performances of the grandpas and admiring their boldness and cheekiness.

So is it possible that the city authorities could make a “Bridge Day” event and ban divers on regular days?

By setting a special day once a year for bridge diving, they can make sufficient preparation to guarantee safety, and satisfy the vanity of grandpa divers and the curiosity of tourists while helping to boost the local economy.

On other days, it’s better for everyone not to jump off the bridge and find somewhere safer to swim.

In China, schoolchildren have often been told by teachers not to swim in natural water bodies. Such warnings come with good reasons. While swimming in rivers, lakes and the ocean, people may come across fast-moving currents, waves and rapids, even in shallow water, and underwater obstacles, rocks and debris, wild animals, or sudden changes in water temperature.

In addition to all these threats, there can also be problem with contaminated water that may pose health hazards, which is why we see ubiquitous signs warning against swimming near rivers, lakes and reservoirs.

For those who really want to dip in nature, they need to take ample safety precautions, be equipped with good gear, and do some research into the water quality and environment before heading off to the river.

(The author is a Features Department editor with Shenzhen Daily.)