Two hurt in 'tombstoning' dives

A 20-year-old man suffered neck and back injuries in Southsea

Two men in their 20s have suffered serious injuries in what coastguards believe were incidents of "tombstoning" in southern England.

One of the victims was rescued by lifeguards after plunging 30ft (9.1m) from a cliff into 3ft (0.9m) of water at Whitsand Bay, Cornwall, on Saturday.

A 20-year-old man was seriously hurt on Sunday when he plunged from a pier in Southsea, Hants, into shallow water.

Police said they were investigating whether the man jumped or fell.

Coastguards, who said they believed the 20-year-old was "tombstoning", renewed warnings about the practice.

Dave Scullion, from Brixham Coastguard, said diving from height into water was "madness", as tidal flows altered the depth dramatically.

He said: "This is one way to ruin not only a pleasant afternoon for yourself, but very possibly the rest of your life.

'Madness of tombstoning returns'

"Tombstoning is madness whichever way you look at it. An individual has no real idea what's under the water they are jumping in."

He spoke after the man in Cornwall was flown to hospital strapped to a spinal board.

Coastguards said when he was rescued he was slipping in and out of consciousness and had no feeling in his legs.

The Tamar Coastguard Rescue team cleared the area while he was winched on to a helicopter.

A helicopter was also called to rescue the man injured after plunging from Southsea's South Parade Pier.

He was taken to the Queen Alexandra Hospital for treatment.