Man badly injured in cliff fall

Four people have fallen from cliffs in Newquay in less than a month

A man is in a serious condition in hospital after falling from cliffs in Cornwall.

The man, who is thought to be 33 and not from the area, was found "conscious and breathing" by a security guard on Tolcarne Beach, Newquay, at 0500 BST.

He was taken to the Royal Cornwall Hospital.

A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman said the man had suffered head, spinal, chest and limb injuries as well as a suspected broken pelvis.

The accident comes just days after the Commander for Policing in Cornwall called for civic leaders to improve the town's image as a safe place to visit.

Online petition

Chief Superintendent Elaine Marshall's plea followed three cliff falls in Newquay - two of them fatal - in the last month.

Paddy Higgins, 16, from Berkshire was pronounced dead on Tolcarne beach after apparently falling from cliffs in the early hours of 6 July.

The previous week a 16-year-old boy broke his neck and suffered a fractured skull after falling from cliffs near the Atlantic Hotel in Newquay.

And on 28 June, the body of 18-year-old Andrew Curwell, 18, from Greater Manchester, was found at the foot of cliffs at Newquay's Great Western Beach.

It may not be obvious to persons unfamiliar with the town, but the majority of pubs and clubs are very close to the sea and some very high cliffs Insp Dave Meredith, Newquay Police

Following the first three falls, Insp Dave Meredith of Newquay Police said that although alcohol could not be directly linked to any of these incidents, the police were appealing to everyone visiting the resort to be aware of the dangers of going near cliffs areas after drinking.

"It may not be obvious to persons unfamiliar with the town, but the majority of pubs and clubs are very close to the sea and some very high cliffs," Insp Meredith said at the time.

"It is quite feasible for someone who has become lost or disorientated to walk to a dangerous cliff area within minutes of leaving any of the pubs and clubs in central Newquay."

As a result, police were urging holidaymakers to stay in areas covered by street lighting and to use bus and taxi services.

Devon and Cornwall Police were also working closely with local licensees, hoteliers and camp site owners to publicise the dangers involved in going near the numerous cliff areas in Newquay.

Following the death of Paddy Higgins, his father, John, has set up an online petition demanding tighter controls in Newquay, including the installation of fences and gates along the resort's cliff roads.