IT is hard to overstate the foolishness of Matty Harper and his “team” for thinking that back-flipping off High Force waterfall into the whirlpool below would be either safe or entertaining.

It is only by sheer good fortune that Mr Harper’s name has not been added to the dreadfully long list of fatalities in that stretch of the River Tees. After getting pulled under the water by the strong currents, he now admits that his stunt was reckless and he underestimated the risk. Just a bit!

But not only did he put himself in danger, he put at risk those supporting him, and the members of the public in the area who could have been tempted to launch a rescue if he had got into further difficulties.

Added to that there is potential risk (and cost) to members of the emergency services and local mountain rescue team if the stunt went wrong.

There is an argument for denying such behaviour any publicity to avoid the risk of creating copy cats. But with such large online audiences available to the likes of Mr Harper and other thrill-seekers, it is important that when something as dangerous as this takes place, the event is properly critiqued.

Those criticisms need to come from voices of authority like the police and rescuers we quote condemning the stunt. After all, they are the ones who all too often have to pick up the pieces following unfortunate accidents – never mind clearing up after people who should know better.