SOCIAL media videos showcasing off-limits locations – including an “abandoned” hospital – have sparked concern among police and government officials as young Islanders in search of online fame take risks “exploring” unsafe and restricted areas in a bid to produce viral content.
Infrastructure Minister Andy Jehan has urged parents “to talk to their youngsters about the dangers of entering some of these sites”.
He made the comments in response to recent videos that have gathered tens-of-thousands of views on social media platform TikTok.
One such clip, uploaded with an “urban exploring” hashtag, shows the inside of the “abandoned” St Saviour’s Hospital littered with ageing equipment, broken glass and debris.
Posted just a few days ago, it had been viewed more than 12,000 times at the time of writing.
The TikTok user behind the St Saviour’s Hospital video has also posted footage taken inside some of the tunnels built by the Germans during the Occupation.
Though TikTok is a relatively new platform, it is not the first time that young Islanders have made headlines exploring unsafe locations.
In the early 1960s, two teenage boys tragically died in a war tunnel after a fire which had been lit the day before had consumed all the oxygen.
Their deaths were seemingly referenced in one of the social media videos, which was titled: “Exporing abandoned nazi war tunnels…where two boys suffocated in 1963”.
The “urban exploration” trend is a global one, with countless videos of thrill-seekers accessing secure locations and abandoned facilities quickly drawing in thousands of views.
Some individuals also document themselves evading security personnel while sneaking in and out of closed-off areas.
In another local video, posted to a different TikTok account, a group of young Islanders climb onto the roof of Fort Regent in an effort to promote a clothing brand.
The video contained text that said: “POV [point of view]: Your brand went to the highest point on the Island”.
And an older video posted by another TikTok user attempted to garner views with footage of “abandoned” buildings at Overdale, which were being demolished to make way for the planned new acute hospital.
Infrastructure Minister Andy Jehan stressed that Islanders needed to be “sensible” and not to enter sites unauthorised.
He said: “The sites are closed for a reason, because they’re not safe – and we would encourage people to follow the instructions. If it says no access, it says no access for a reason.”
Mr Jehan continued: “We would urge parents to talk to their youngsters about the dangers of entering some of these sites.
“There’s great height in some of them, so a fall could be fatal. There will be some areas which are unstable.”
Chief Inspector Craig Jackson said the States police “have received calls about this, particularly in relation to Fort Regent”.
“We are concerned about the safety risks this poses to those involved,” he added.
“While the buildings aren’t ‘abandoned’ they can be structurally unsafe and full of hazards that put the lives of those entering them at risk, not to mention those of the emergency services who will be called if they get into trouble.”
A similar issue is being experienced in Guernsey, where police have documented a number of reports involving young people gathering in abandoned buildings and occasionally causing damage.
In a statement, the Guernsey Police said: “This growing trend not only endangers those young people but also risks the safety of emergency services attending these callouts.
“Abandoned buildings often present significant risks, from questionable structural integrity and smashed glass to health hazards like asbestos and black mould.
“There is also the danger of potential injuries while entering or exiting these premises.”
The statement continued: “We would urge parents to please remain vigilant about where your children are and talk to them about the dangerous of ‘urban exploring’.
“Together, we can prevent unnecessary risks to their safety and the safety of others.
“It’s simple really: people shouldn’t be inside of these properties. Entering abandoned buildings is seriously dangerous and could constitute an offence.”
