Moment 'selfish' thrill-seekers base jump from viewing deck of 518ft Blackpool Tower after opening window in front of families

By JON BRADY, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 17:59, 22 July 2026 | Updated: 18:10, 22 July 2026 A group of base jumpers who threw themselves from the viewing deck of Blackpool Tower have been condemned for the 'extremely dangerous' stunt. The trio of thrill-seekers were able to leap from the platform, which is 380ft up the 518ft-tall tower, after unlocking a window with what the building's owners called a 'specialist tool'.  Filming it for social media clout on GoPro-style cameras, the three men claimed they were 'window inspectors' as they leapt out in the direction of Blackpool Promenade, sailing over powered tram lines. Two of the three jumpers landed on the Comedy Carpet artwork, but one - who leapt without a helmet - appeared to aim poorly, ending his jump on the roof of the nearby former Woolworths building instead.  The stunt happened in front of astonished bystanders, including several schoolchildren. Though not shown in the video, the Mail understands that the window was closed seconds after the last person jumped. Lancashire Police are investigating whether the trio of jumpers broke the law by posing as tourists to access the top deck. Blackpool Tourism, which operates the tower, has blasted the adrenaline junkies for the caper, and claimed they had made 'failed attempts' to open other windows. It said the three had 'posed as paying visitors', adding: 'While the footage may give the impression that they were able to open a window with ease, this was not the case.' A trio of base jumpers have been condemned after unlocking a window on Blackpool Tower so they could perform a social media stunt The trio wore cameras so they could capture the jump at every angle, with the reactions of shocked children shared online The jump was witnessed by families, some of whom had very young children with them It added: 'All windows at the top of the tower are securely locked. However, the individuals brought a specialist tool which enabled them to discreetly unlock one of the windows. This followed failed attempts at several other windows. 'While the individuals appear to have escaped without injury, parachuting over a busy promenade and active tramlines created an extremely dangerous situation that could have had catastrophic consequences for both those involved and members of the public.' Reaction on social media to the Blackpool jump was mixed, with some criticising the jumpers for what they saw as a selfish and self-indulgent feat.  One user, James Tabor, commented: 'Your stunt, while brilliant, will cost them money and time and probably change their policy.  'Bag searches, insurance costs, and fitting window locks etc. It all has an impact.' Another said: 'This is why we can't have nice things,' to which the group responded with a snoring emoji. The Instagram video was tagged with the accounts of three base jumpers. The Mail has identified them as 41-year-old web developer Louis Harwood from Cleethorpes, 37-year-old Bacup plumber Matt Oldham and Theo Featherstone, 28, a Cambridge student and former member of Imperial College London's skydiving club. Each did not respond to individual requests for comment on their involvement in the jump. Their Instagram accounts were 'untagged' from the video after the Daily Mail got in touch. The trio are part of a group of rogue thrill-seekers called Let's Make Stupid Decisions (LMSD), which films its base jumps - parachute jumps made from dangerously low heights - for likes online.  It made headlines in March after two men, who have not been identified, climbed the ropes of the Humber Bridge before leaping from the top. The jumpers, part of a group called Let's Make Stupid Decisions, said they used a tool bought online to unlock several windows - and denied damaging the Tower Two of the three jumpers landed on the Comedy Carpet on Blackpool's Promenade - but one appeared to misjudge and landed on the roof of a nearby building  Blackpool Tower is 518ft tall, and its observation deck sits just 380ft above the ground (pictured: the Tower overlooking the Comedy Carpet) Climbing the ropes of the bridge is a breach of local bye-laws for which others have previously been prosecuted, but the group appeared to taunt local authorities by referring to a statement issued by bridge bosses over its reinforced security. Another video shows a member of the group leaping from the Clifton Suspension Bridge - where several people have died in recent years - after being confronted by a security guard. One person responded to that clip: 'Yeah man you could at least have told him what you were doing. Probably gave the guy a heart attack, not cool. Do better.' They also filmed a video that showed them leaping from the top of Manchester's 600ft Trinity Heights tower in January last year. At the time, the building had not been topped off and was still under construction. Nevertheless, the group wrote on its video of the escapade: 'Base jumping is not a crime.'  In a statement emailed to the Daily Mail, LMSD organiser Mark Schroeder - an Armed Forces bomb disposal veteran - insisted that the showy stunt had been 'meticulously' planned. He denied that the windows had been damaged after being unlocked, claiming they were opened using a tool purchased online. Mr Schroeder, who now works full-time as a project manager, insisted: 'Safety and meticulous planning sit at the absolute core of everything we do.  'Contrary to claims that this jump created an unexpected or uncontrolled hazard, this project was planned meticulously far in advance by experienced professionals.' A Lancashire Police spokesperson said: 'We received a report [into the incident] on 19th July and enquiries into it are ongoing. 'Anyone with information or footage to assist is asked to call 101 quoting log 0569 of 19th July.' Base jumping is an acronym referring to jumping from Buildings, Antennas, Spans (bridges) and Earth (referring to natural heights such as clifftops) using a single parachute with no reserve. Jumpers normally leap from heights of between 300 and 1000 feet, though the lowest ever jump was completed by late celebrity daredevil Felix Baumgartner in 1999 when he leapt from the 95ft Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio.  The group has previously taunted the Humber Bridge authorities after breaching security to jump from the top (pictured) The sport is not illegal in the UK, but base jumpers can find themselves in trouble with the law if they access the tops of buildings or other sites without permission. It is widely regarded as one of the most dangerous extreme sports in the world.  Last month, base jumper Andy Lewis - known for his appearance in Madonna's 2012 Super Bowl half-time show - died in a base jumping accident in the US. Mr Lewis, 39, who ran a business giving inexperienced jumpers 'tandem' rides by strapping them into his harness, was killed after his parachute failed to open leaping off of a 280-foot cliff at a site known as Mary's Gash in Utah. He was killed alongside his passenger, 50-year-old Danny Joe Kregle of Arizona, after their shared parachute failed to open. Mr Lewis had remarked in an interview published last year that it was 'weird to think about how many people are dead, because it’s like a normal thing' in the sport.