A MAN is recovering after diving 50ft on to rocks during stag night high jinks.

William Plenderleith, 27, from Stonehouse, Scotland, suffered spinal injuries and a broken heel after he plunged from the promenade at Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, early on Saturday.

The coastguard, and Tynemouth Lifeboat and Air Sea Rescue launched a two-and-a-half-hour rescue in which Mr Plenderleith was airlifted by a helicopter from RAF Boulmer to Wansbeck Hospital, Ashington, Northumberland.

Police and ambulance reponded to a 999 call, but were unable to reach him.

Coastguard spokesman Steven Poar said: "He had drunk a lot of alcohol and he was looking to impress his friends on a stag night.

"He had run out of Deep nightclub and jumped straight over the fence. He had thought the tide was in.

"He was in a severe amount of pain when we reached him and has suffered spinal injuries, but he is comfortable in hospital."

A Northumbria Police spokesman said: "We would encourage people on a night out in Whitley Bay to be a bit careful, particularly when they have drink on board and it might be tempting to venture near the sea front or to think of going for a swim.

"We have had one or two incidents in the past where people have fallen."