The death of an 18-year-old Scottish man in a flooded quarry is being linked to the “ice bucket challenge.”
Cameron Lancaster, of Burntisland, Fife, died Sunday. Emergency services — Police Scotland, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, and the Scottish Ambulance Service — were called to Preston Hill Quarry near Inverkeithing after he disappeared at around 5 p.m. His body was recovered at around 9 p.m. after four hours underwater.
In a statement, Lancaster’s family said: “Cameron died in a tragic accident. His death is such a great loss. During his short life, he touched so many people with his friendliness, kindness and thoughtful generosity of spirit. He will be hugely missed by his family and friends. The family are finding it hard to come to terms with this sudden loss and would ask for privacy.”
Although the exact circumstances of Lancaster’s death are yet to be established, locals say youths have been “tomb-stoning” into the quarry in a new take on the “ice bucket challenge,” which has gone viral recently. Usually participants are drenched in freezing buckets of water for charity.
A photo of Lancaster provided by Scottish police.
Local councillor Alice McGarry said: “There are rumors and speculation that this tragedy is linked to the ice bucket challenge. Some children have been jumping off the cliffs at the quarry. They have always done that, but it seems there has been a recent increase because of this challenge. There is no confirmation at this stage, but that is what we think has happened. I saw a video of another boy jumping from one of the edges last week so this could be related.”
Wilma Sutherland, 41, told The Independent: “I asked my son who’s 15 if he had heard anything, and he told me that a young guy had taken part in the ice bucket challenge and then jumped in the quarry and didn’t come up. It’s a popular spot for swimming, and I’ve seen lots of teenagers jumping in.”
A police spokesman said: “Inquiries are under way to establish the full circumstances of what happened, and Police Scotland’s thoughts are with the family.”
The ice bucket challenge started as a way to raise money for motor neuron disease. Thousands of people including celebrities such as Victoria Beckham, President George W. Bush, and many others, though critics have claimed most participants simply want to take part without donating money.
Ironically the co-founder of the ALS ice bucket challenge, Corey Griffin, drowned following a diving accident on Aug. 16.
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