Cornwall Cliff Death: Man's Car Falls 100ft

A driver has died after his car fell around 100ft off a cliff in Cornwall.

The coastguard's search and rescue helicopter was scrambled to a stretch of coastline in an area known locally as the Tea Caverns, in Newquay, at around 7.15am.

Police put a cordon in place as emergency services fought to recover the driver, whose car landed just above the water line. He was declared dead at the scene.

A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said no other vehicles were involved and no-one else was injured.

"This was an isolated incident and there doesn't appear to be any suspicious circumstances at this time," he said.

A statement from police said an investigation had been launched into what happened.

"At this time we do not know whether there was a medical episode, a mechanical failure of some kind or if this was a deliberate act by the driver," the statement said.

"We must keep an open mind and carry out a thorough investigation."

It added that the man's family had been made aware.

Lorraine Stones, manager of the nearby Atlantic Hotel, told Sky News: "It's terrible.

"We've been here 28 years and nothing like this has ever happened before. It's not really a proper road down there and it's hard to know what happened."

Tracey Sinkevicius, 51, said her husband, Russell, had witnessed the incident.

"He called me and was in a state of shock. He described that a white/silver car was hanging over the cliff and a person was visible hanging out of it," she told the Cornish Guardian.

"My husband was too distraught to say much more, but I called the emergency services straight away. I am not sure if Russell had already done so."

Any witnesses are asked to call police on 101 and quote log 132.