Police have yet to name a man who died after falling from a crumbling cliff ledge minutes after using his mobile phone to call for help.

The man had been taking photographs when he slipped from cliffs near Dunraven Bay, just outside Llantwit Major, south Wales, on Friday.

He couldn't concentrate because he knew what would happen if he lost his grip

Coast watch assistant Ed Tucker

He was able to call coastguards from his mobile while hanging from the cliff face but when the emergency crew arrived at the scene they found a body at the foot of the 150ft cliff.

South Wales Police said the man's next-of-kin are still being informed of the tragedy.

The man, who is believed to be in his 30s, told coastguards in Swansea he had been taking photographs of rock formations for his girlfriend when he slipped.

He told a coastguard telephone operator that he had grabbed hold of a ledge but was hanging on by his fingertips and could not hold on much longer.

A rescue helicopter coasguard rescue teams from Llantwit Major and Porthcawl were scrambled to the scene where the man was dangling from a ledge about 80ft above the beach.

Found dead

A coastguard operator reassured him that help was on the way but lost the call after five minutes.

When police and a rescue helicopter arrived at the scene they found the man dead at the bottom of the cliff.

Coast watch assistant Ed Tucker said: "The man was very frightened and just said he was hanging on by his fingertips.

"I tried to keep him calm but he was in such a state he could not give me his exact location.

"He couldn't concentrate because he knew what would happen if he lost his grip.

Isolated

"I ended the call so I could get a helicopter and coastguards to the scene.

"But when I rang back a few minutes later there was no reply and I feared for the worst."

The man, who has not been named, is believed to have cycled to the isolated spot with his camera.

He made the 999 call from his mobile phone at 1215 BST, saying he has been leaning over the cliff edge taking photographs when it suddenly gave way.