Lifeboat crews have issued a warning about “tombstoning” after two boys were unable to return to shore.

The RNLI was called to Whitstable yesterday evening after the teenagers had jumped into the sea from the west quay.

The 13-year-olds could not swim back to the beach due to the strength of the tide.

A member of the RNLI’s shore crew kept the two under observation while the lifeboat was launched.

The youngsters managed to climb to the top of the ‘Dolphin’ a mooring structure just off the end of the quay.

The lifeboat crew arrived at the scene and the two boys climbed down the ladder onto the lifeboat and were landed ashore into the care of the shore crew and coastguard rescue team.

Lifeboat helmsman Dave Parry said: “This was the third call this year to people who have jumped from the end of the quay.

“Whilst it might look a fun thing to do on a hot day it is actually very dangerous and sooner or later this could result in something going badly wrong”.

Last month, the coastguard issued a warning after several individuals were seen tombstoning from Rochester Bridge.

The latest figures, which were released by the Local Government Association from between 2004 and 2019, found the Coastguard had dealt with more than 200 incidents of tombstoning, including 70 injuries and 20 deaths.

Also known as cliff jumping, the activity was given its name because of the way a person plunges into deep water in a similar way to a stone.