A gifted Shropshire student plunged to his death after unwittingly leaping over a cliff-side fence on his way to a late night party with a county friend.

Alex Wilson, 19, of Alberbury, near Shrewsbury, was a first year student at St Andrews University in Fife, when he fell to his death on November 6 last year while walking to a beach party with friend Hugo Tapp.

An inquest at Shrewsbury Magistrates Court yesterday heard that Mr Wilson had been out drinking with Mr Tapp, of Stanton Lacey, near Ludlow, on the evening of November 5.

The pair had planned to attend a late-night beach party, but as they attempted to walk down to it, Mr Wilson jumped over a fence and plunged into the sea.

Mr John Ellery, coroner for North and Mid West Shropshire, recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Following the inquest, Mr Wilson’s family released a statement, paying tribute to him.

It said: “Alex was a boy who was full of life. He excelled at all kinds of sport and was intelligent and funny. He was able to communicate with people of all ages and from all walks of life and was loved by many.

“To his parents Chris and Jean and brother Henry, he brought happiness, love and always a big smile. We all miss him greatly and are determined he will continue to play a part in our lives.”

Mr Tapp, also speaking at yesterday’s hearing, said Mr Wilson had told him of a short cut over a fence.

“We went down a pathway towards a fence and Alex jumped over it,” he said.

“He was laughing because he had landed in a bush and so I followed him over.

“Neither of us realised the edge of the cliff was actually the other side of the fence and while Alex fell into the sea below, I managed to hold on and raise the alarm.

“I had known Alex since pre-school and we had remained firm friends throughout our lives. He was an incredible sportsman and academic.”

Mr Ellery said a pathologist’s report had recorded the cause of death as salt water drowning caused by a fall from a cliff with a contributing factor of acute alcohol intoxication.

By Andrew Morris