Risky cliff jumps worry parents

BURNET, Texas (KXAN) - For almost 20 minutes, a lone teenager sat on the giant boulder overlooking Devil's Waterhole .

Mulling a jump to escape from the triple-digit temperature at Inks Lake State Park, Melody Walker knew he was having trouble pushing himself over the edge.

"That's a 35-foot drop," Walker explained. "I would never do something like that."

Walker turned suddenly as she heard the jumper splash near the bank across from her. Her eyes quickly darted to her own 6-year-old son, Charlie.

"I won't let Charlie go that high," Walker said. "He can stay on the lower ledges. That's safe, and he's a good swimmer."

Her forbidden peak was also the scene of a recent water emergency. Other swimmers had to help a 29-year-old man who hit his head on the rocks while jumping.

"It knocked him unconscious, but he woke up shortly after," said Inks Lake State Park Ranger Warren Struss. "The paramedics came, but he refused treatment. He seemed alright, from what I know."

Struss estimated up to 2,000 people visit the lake on any summer weekend. Devil's Waterhole has become one of the most popular attractions, but it also racks up its share of injuries. That recent incident was the worse Struss could remember.

"It's usually when people are trying to be daredevils," Struss explained. "The ones who try for back flips or other tricks sometimes don't jump far enough out. It's a good 10 or 15 feet from the top point to where you can clear the rocks in the water below."

Watch YouTube videos below of some of the jumpers at Devil's Waterhole:

Struss said he is one of eight park rangers patrolling the 1,200-acre area each week. They often stop by the jumping site but never keep a permanent post there. He pointed to the "Swim At Your Own Risk" signs on each bank near the bluff.

"The best way to stay safe is to use your best judgment," Struss said. "If it were me, I wouldn't climb to the top of that rock. It's not illegal or anything, but you're a lot safer on the lower ones."

Struss said, in the event of an emergency, paramedics must park on an overlook on Park Road 4 about 100 yards above the bank.

"They can make it there after climbing down, but they wish they didn't have to," Struss said. "It also helps to have someone there to watch you in case something does go wrong."

Walker said she rarely lets Charlie out of her sight, especially in a potentially dangerous situation like this.

"I just hope he doesn't get any ideas from the bigger kids to try this later when I'm not around," Walker laughed.