Horrifying moment Briton, 40, crashes into rocks after misjudging jump into puddle of water below, suffering ‘serious injuries’ at infamous Tenerife beauty spot

This is the sickening moment a cliff jumper misjudges his plunge into the abyss and plummets onto the rocks at a notorious Tenerife beauty spot as British tourist friends look on in horror.

The 40-year-old man was carried away from a sea cave called Charco El Tancon in Puerto Santiago in northern Tenerife on Monday afternoon after suffering ‘serious injuries’ to his legs.

Footage of the brutal overnight injury showed a group of men, believed to be friends of the holidaymaker, counting down from five before launching themselves into the air.

But the man jumped too far, shot past the sea and struck feet first on the rocks surrounding the pool dozens of meters below.

Witnesses could be heard reacting in shock and fear as the hapless jumper made contact with the rocks before bouncing back into the water, with clear signs that his injuries included at least one broken leg.

Some appeared to have made the same jump moments earlier and were still in the water when the victim had his stomach twisting accident.

Do YOU ​​know who was involved in the accident? david.averre@mailonline.co.uk

Several holidaymakers have died in the notoriously dangerous cave.

The crystal clear waters of El Tancón attract tourists from all corners of the world, but the beauty spot is considered very dangerous.

The seemingly calm waters can quickly turn into turbulent waters depending on the tides, with swimmers relaxing in the pool at risk of being smashed against the rocks.

Spanish influencer Marina Rivera Saldana, who has two million followers on Instagram, was criticized for posting photos of her swimming in the place where bathing is banned last September.

It is listed as ‘permanently closed’ on TripAdvisor, where locals warn people not to visit.

Witnesses to Monday’s accident reported seeing a group of tourists filming themselves doing somersaults and diving off rocks into the open sea before heading to the site of the horror accident.

When emergency services arrived, the injured man had already been removed from the water.

A spokesman for a regional emergency services coordinator said after he was rushed to hospital: ‘A 40-year-old foreign man was taken by ambulance to Hospiten Sur University Hospital.

‘He had several serious lower limb injuries.

“The first emergency call was received at 2.10pm on Monday stating that the foreign man required medical attention after hitting rocks while jumping into the sea at Charco El Tancon.

“His companions had already pulled him out of the water when first responders arrived.”

Firefighters took him to a local health center where he was stabilized before being taken to hospital.

It was not immediately clear today what his current condition is.

A Canary Islands-based organization set up to prevent water accidents like Monday’s incident said in an overnight post: “El Tancon in Tenerife has once again become tragic news due to the most absurd recklessness.”

A spokesman for the group said video footage of the accident showed people “freely risking their lives and recording everything for social media,” and said: “Please: no more recklessness, no more suicide attacks, no more deaths at sea.” Prevention and common sense.’

The site of the accident, part of a complex of natural pools on the cliffs of Los Gigantes, has been described as a ‘mortal paradise’.

An online travel page described it as ‘one of the most beautiful places in all of Tenerife’ before bathing was banned there.

It adds: ‘There is also a cave under the rocks that you can swim in. There is also an alternative descent on the other side that allows you to see the cave from below.

‘Common sense is very important here, because the lake can be very dangerous at high tide. Then the cave fills with water and it can be very difficult to get out. Therefore, it is worth observing the situation in the ocean and not taking risks when the water starts to rise.”

An English-speaking visitor wrote on TripAdvisor in September 2022: ‘I found the cave by accident in 1999. It is an enchanting place to watch the cave fill and empty by the swell of the sea.

‘Because I’m not a strong swimmer, I wouldn’t dare go in. I have read over the years that strong swimmers have succumbed to the speed at which the cave fills, causing them to become stuck to the roof of the cave and suffer fatal head injuries or drown.

‘I have visited the place over three different holiday years so have seen some ‘hairy’ sea conditions. It scared me to stand there and see how quickly the cave filled up.

“If you visit this place, please be very aware of the consequences of what may happen to you as you have no control whatsoever.”

A Spanish resident replied: ‘DON’T GET IN. People die here every year. Although it may seem like the sea is calm, within seconds a series of waves can come in and take you to the grave.

‘Once you are in the water, the cave fills with the waves, causing your head to hit the ceiling of the cave and leaving you unconscious.

‘Your only way out would be to dive as deep as possible and wait there for a few minutes. For most of us this is impossible. Do not attempt to swim here. THERE IS NO WAY OUT.’

Another visitor added: ‘We passed this natural ‘pool’ a few times on the way from Puerto de Santiago and Los Gigantes.

‘It is well signposted but there are also warning signs at the start of the steps to the pool indicating that people using it do so at their own risk as there are no lifeguards.

‘On a relatively calm, sunny day, sea swells were still causing apparently strong waves to come over the outer boundary wall.’