'Tombstone' plunge man paralysed

Steven Andrews had been jumping at Sharrow Point

A man who suffered spinal injuries after taking part in a suspected "tombstoning" stunt is likely to be paralysed for the rest of his life.

Steven Andrews, 25, is in hospital with severe spinal injuries after jumping off a cliff into 3ft (90cm) of water.

The incident happened at Sharrow Point in Whitsand Bay, Cornwall, on Saturday.

Pamela Bond, the mother of Mr Andrews who is from Plymouth, Devon, said his life and dreams were "ruined". "It's heart-wrenching," she said.

An individual has no real idea what's under the water Dave Scullion, Brixham Coastguard

"He's paralysed from the neck down for life, I just feel really scared and frightened, I'm in total shock."

Mr Andrews, who lives with his mother, went to Sharrow Beach on Saturday with friends.

It is understood he had been drinking before deciding to jump, despite being warned twice by lifeguards who then rushed to pull him unconscious from the water.

He was flown to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth by air ambulance and is now in intensive care.

In a separate accident, Sonny Wells, 20, from Waterlooville, Hampshire, jumped into water less than 4ft (1.2m) deep from South Parade Pier in Southsea on Sunday.

'Bitter experience'

He has also been told he may never walk again.

Dave Scullion, from Brixham Coastguard, said tombstoning - diving from height into water - was madness as tidal flows alter the depth of water dramatically.

"An individual has no real idea what's under the water they are jumping in," he said.

"We know from bitter experience of treating casualties that a couple of hours' work for concerned lifeguards can turn into a lifetime of pain for the individual and years of treatment from the NHS."