June 7, 2009 - Separate incidents last week were tragic reminders of the attraction quarries can have for curious teenagers.  

In the UK, the Derby Telegraph reported last Thursday that family of a 15-year-old boy who drowned at a Derbyshire quarry are furious "nothing" has been done to prevent a similar tragedy.

Ryan Walker died at Far Hill Quarry, near Ashover, on Sunday after climbing through a hole in the fence to go swimming. Now grieving mum Tracey Walker and her fiancé, Jason Clark, are demanding security at the site is stepped-up. They visited the quarry on Tuesday and were angry the gap Ryan and his friends used had not been boarded up. Mr Clark, of Holmgate, Clay Cross, said: "How many more lives have to be lost before something is done?"

Police confirmed yesterday a private individual owned the quarry but would not say who. North East Derbyshire District Council and Derbyshire County Council said they could not take action. A district council spokesman said: "We understand this site is privately owned. As the council does not own it, we have no legal powers to investigate or regulate the site and cannot force the owner to take action."

In the U.S., Fox 21 News reported last Wednesday that a 15-year-old Duluth boy suffered serious injuries after falling in a West Duluth rock quarry Wednesday afternoon. Nate Greene was climbing down rocks in the abandoned quarry above the corner of 57th Avenue West and Medina Street when he fell, according to Zach Bartl, a friend who was climbing with Greene. Bartl ran for help and found Thomas Anstett, who ran up to the quarry, climbed up and grabbed a hold of Greene to keep him from falling farther, and waited for rescue crews to arrive.

Duluth Fire Department Capt. Dennis Edwards said officials were not sure how far Greene fell, but said Greene suffered "severe trauma" from the fall. Greene was reported to be in fair condition at a Duluth hospital on Wednesday evening.