Three friends from the Lizard have been officially thanked by coastguards for their "professional" efforts to assist a holidaymaker who plunged 200ft to his death at Kynance Cove.

Tourist Richard Wenlock, 22, from Orpington in Kent, had climbed to the top of Gull Rock, off Asparagus Island, with another man to take photographs when he fell, hitting rocks before plunging into the sea.

Friends Phil Broscomb, 19, and Steven Legge and Mark Benner, both 20, who were among the hundreds of people packing the popular tourist beach, witnessed the incident and promptly swung into action.

Mark alerted the Coastguard while Steven and Phil swam to Mr Wenlock, hauling him from the water onto a sloping rock and attempting to resuscitate him.

The pair stayed with the holidaymaker until a helicopter crew from RNAS Culdrose arrived on scene and winched Mr Wenlock up to paramedics waiting on the cliff-top, where he was pronounced dead.

Mike Stevens, deputy station officer for the Mullion Coastguard team, said Phil, Steven and Mark were to be congratulated on their actions.

"It was a very brave effort," he said. "To do what they did, in a very difficult situation, was brilliant. Nobody could have done any more, and they deserve a bit of recognition for it."

Coastguard sector manager for South Cornwall Shamus McCaffery, who sent an official letter of thanks to the trio, said they were to be commended.

"They did a great job. It was a tragic accident, and sadly one without a happy ending, but they did the best they could for the young man under the circumstances."

Mr Wenlock and members of his family were staying at Sea Acres caravan park, Kennack Sands.

The family, who returned to Kent earlier this week, were understood to be on the beach at Kynance at the time of the accident.

Mullion Coastguard station officer Barry Mundy this week warned of the dangers presented by The Lizard's stunning coastline.

"Climbing any of the cliffs around here is dangerous and we would advise people against it," he said.

"The rocks are very unforgiving and you only have to fall ten feet to have a serious accident."

An inquest into Mr Wenlock's death was opened and adjourned on Monday.

Shortly after the Kynance incident, the Mullion Coastguard team was called to Kennack Sands, where another holidaymaker had become stuck on a ledge after climbing around 70ft up a cliff.

A member of the team abseiled down to the climber and he was recovered safely to the top of the cliff.