&sq=&lang=&file=File:Tommy_Burns_Ogdens_Cigarettes_card.jpg) Tommy Burns on an 'Ogdens Cigarettes' card, printed c. 1901 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Thomas Burns |
| Born | January 21, 1868 Liverpool, England |
| Died | July 6, 1897 (aged 29) Rhyl, Wales (Accidental drowning) |
| Resting place | West Derby, Liverpool |
| Years active | 1880s–1897 |
| Height | 5.5 ft (1.7 m) |
| Weight | 11 st 4 lb (72 kg; 158 lb) |
| Spouse | Marie Burns |
| Sport | |
| Country | Great Britain |
| Sport | Diving |
Thomas "Tommy" Burns (21 January 1868 – 6 July 1897) was a British diver born in Liverpool, England, known for his diving feats and athletic abilities. He advertised himself as the "champion all round athlete of the world," excelling particularly in diving and swimming. Throughout the late 19th century, he gained notoriety for diving off structures, usually bridges such as London Bridge and Clifton Suspension Bridge in England and the Tay Bridge in Scotland.
His diving attempts were often thwarted by police and he sometimes faced arrest upon returning to dry land. On some occasions, he used creative disguises, even dressing as a woman while diving from Trafford Bridge in Manchester. Burns was also known to be a life saver and during his lifetime, is believed to have saved in excess of 40 lives, holding every medal and certificate from the Royal Humane Society. Throughout the 1890s, he travelled the country to showcase his diving, often gaining media attention. In late 1890, he drew attention by jumping off a bridge in Glasgow before a crowd of 22,000 spectators and managed to evade waiting police.
In July 1897, Burns dived off Rhyl Pier in front of an audience of 3,000 people, which ended with him landing heavily on his back and struggling to swim to shore. Some observed that he looked to have been drinking alcohol prior to the dive. Swimmers helped him onto the pier, where he was unconscious and declared dead after 20 minutes of attempted resuscitation. At this time, he was destitute and his coffin was provided by Rhyl Pier, while another professional diver helped to raise funds for his widow by diving off the Rhyl Pier as Burns himself had done.
Although Burns had been drinking alcohol excessively before the dive, the jury of the inquest returned a verdict of accidental drowning.