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Teenager Jack Bellis defends Foryd Harbour bridge walk | Teenager Jack Bellis defends Foryd Harbour bridge walk |
(35 minutes later) | |
A teenager who was criticised for a death-defying stunt running across the top of a bridge with a friend has defended their actions. | |
Jack Bellis's stunt at Rhyl's Foryd Bridge has led to calls for tighter security. | |
But the Wrexham 16-year-old said it was not dangerous and he was practising Parkour, also known as free running. | |
Rhyl town councillor Ian Armstrong said children had been running the bridge "for years" but it should be stopped. | Rhyl town councillor Ian Armstrong said children had been running the bridge "for years" but it should be stopped. |
Photographer Geoff Abbott saw the pair and told the Daily Post newspaper they could have been killed if they had fallen. | |
But Jack told BBC Radio Wales that it was "just about as dangerous as crossing a road". | |
He said he climbed the bridge - which spans the River Clwyd at Foryd Harbour - "for the view more than anything really". | |
He said he had been practising Parkour for about four years after watching videos on the internet. | He said he had been practising Parkour for about four years after watching videos on the internet. |
"I do it as often as I can. I often travel to Liverpool and Manchester and train with the other Parkour community," he said. | "I do it as often as I can. I often travel to Liverpool and Manchester and train with the other Parkour community," he said. |
He described the activity as "using the fastest way possible just to get from point A to point B". | |
Jack admitted he and his friends often got stopped but they were "not out to cause trouble". | Jack admitted he and his friends often got stopped but they were "not out to cause trouble". |
He added: "Too many kids are on the computer or PlayStation... they're not getting out much". | He added: "Too many kids are on the computer or PlayStation... they're not getting out much". |
Mr Armstrong - who had never heard of Parkour - said children had been running across the bridge for years. | Mr Armstrong - who had never heard of Parkour - said children had been running across the bridge for years. |
"I'm 70-odd and I did it when I was a teenager," he said. | "I'm 70-odd and I did it when I was a teenager," he said. |
"It's gone on for years. People used to dive off it years ago. You used to just go and do it. | "It's gone on for years. People used to dive off it years ago. You used to just go and do it. |
"It is dangerous, there's no doubt about it. I think it should be stopped but I don't see how you can stop it". | "It is dangerous, there's no doubt about it. I think it should be stopped but I don't see how you can stop it". |
North Wales Police said there would not be an investigation but the force would be putting out safety advice. | North Wales Police said there would not be an investigation but the force would be putting out safety advice. |
The interview with Jack Bellis can be heard on BBC Radio Wales' Good Evening Wales programme on Tuesday from 16:00 BST. | The interview with Jack Bellis can be heard on BBC Radio Wales' Good Evening Wales programme on Tuesday from 16:00 BST. |
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