Holidaymaker Roger Davies, 29, died after jumping off the cliff on the west Wales coast at Skomer Tower, near Lydstep.

He drowned after accidentally belly-flopping into the sea.

A group of teenage boys and another man, who had been watching Mr Davies from the cliff top, immediately raised the alarm.

Meanwhile one of the boys - believed to be Mr Davies's brother-in-law - climbed part of the way down the cliff before plunging into the water.

Collapse on lifeboat

Mr Davies, from Tylorstown in the Rhondda, south Wales, was pulled aboard a lifeboat where he collapsed.

The boy - who has not been named by police - was brought to safety by an army boat as he struggled against the swelling tide 20ft from the cliffs.

Mr Davies died before reaching hospital. The teenager was later released after treatment for shock.

A Dyfed Powys Police spokesman said: "We understand Mr Davies may have been interested in cliff diving and turned over in the air before hitting the water.

"You must enter the water correctly or it is like hitting concrete - it can be very dangerous.

"The boy who tried to rescue him acted very bravely. He was extremely courageous to enter the water in that way."

Jump warning

The area is understood to be a popular venue for daredevil cliff divers, who wait until high tide before throwing themselves into the sea.

A spokesman for Milford Haven coastguard, who co-ordinated the rescue, said: "The waters around this area seem very inviting, especially at this time of year.

"However, we would warn people against jumping into water from a great height as this can be extremely dangerous.