Rock to Road

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Quarries still a tragic lure to teenagers

June 7, 2009  By  Andy Bateman


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?"


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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.


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