A MAN has been airlifted to hospital with suspected spinal injuries after ‘tombstoning’ from a cliff near a popular Ceredigion beach this afternoon.

Cardigan lifeboat crew and coastguard rushed to Mwnt beach at around 3pm this afternoon (Sunday) following reports of a man in the sea after jumping from a 40ft cliff into around 6ft of water.

The lifeboat crew managed to rescue the 26-year-old man from the water and carry him to shore, which was busy with beachgoers.

The coastguard helicopter landed nearby and the casualty was taken to University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff with suspected spinal and ankle injuries.

Following the rescue, HM Coastguard in Cardigan have reiterated warnings against ‘tombstoning’ or jumping vertically from a cliff into the sea,

In the UK alone, there have been at least 20 fatalities since 2005 from tombstoning - with over 70 people.