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Jumpers leap off May Day bridge | Jumpers leap off May Day bridge |
(about 4 hours later) | |
May Day revellers jumped off Oxford's Magdalen Bridge after it was reopened following an overnight closure. | |
The bridge has been closed for the past three years during the traditional celebrations to stop people jumping into the River Cherwell. | The bridge has been closed for the past three years during the traditional celebrations to stop people jumping into the River Cherwell. |
In 2005 when the bridge was last left open, 40 people were injured when about 100 jumped off it. | In 2005 when the bridge was last left open, 40 people were injured when about 100 jumped off it. |
Several people leaped off on Friday morning. One one person was arrested on suspicion of a public order offence. | |
Naomi Stokes, 20, a student at Oxford Brookes University, took the plunge with a friend, Christopher Wortom, also 20, and from the same university. | Naomi Stokes, 20, a student at Oxford Brookes University, took the plunge with a friend, Christopher Wortom, also 20, and from the same university. |
It is irritating when people try to portray the bridge jumping nonsense as a tradition that goes back for decades Mark Blandford-Baker | |
Standing on the bridge afterwards, she said: "We really wanted to celebrate May Day somehow but unfortunately we missed the first bit which is a shame. | Standing on the bridge afterwards, she said: "We really wanted to celebrate May Day somehow but unfortunately we missed the first bit which is a shame. |
"But I think we got here for the best bit - it was great. I want to come back and jump every year. | "But I think we got here for the best bit - it was great. I want to come back and jump every year. |
"It was fun, a bit cold, but definitely worth it," said the English and Drama student. | "It was fun, a bit cold, but definitely worth it," said the English and Drama student. |
Mark Blandford-Baker, home bursar of Magdalen College, said the bridge jumping only started in the early 1980s. | Mark Blandford-Baker, home bursar of Magdalen College, said the bridge jumping only started in the early 1980s. |
He said: "It is irritating when people try to portray the bridge jumping nonsense as a tradition that goes back for decades. | He said: "It is irritating when people try to portray the bridge jumping nonsense as a tradition that goes back for decades. |
"People in years gone by had more sense than to want to throw themselves several feet in to a shallow river and run a high risk of broken bones and sprains." | "People in years gone by had more sense than to want to throw themselves several feet in to a shallow river and run a high risk of broken bones and sprains." |
In 2005 the ambulance service said treating those injured after they jumped from the bridge cost it £50,000. | In 2005 the ambulance service said treating those injured after they jumped from the bridge cost it £50,000. |
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