A Kent teenager fell from a cliff face and plummeted towards jagged rocks below in a terrifying scene aired on national television.

Patrick Dauncey is the youngest contestant taking part in Channel 4's The Island with Bear Grylls this year.

The 19-year-old, from Tunbridge Wells, has taken a gap year from his studies to take part in the survival challenge on an uninhabited island in the Pacific.

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But in last night's episode viewers were left shocked after he lost his footing and fell 30ft towards rocks below.

The contestants were searching for firewood when the student began plummeting towards the ground.

He landed on his back on a jagged rock. His fellow contestants let out terrified screams and were unsure whether the gap-year student was conscious or seriously injured.

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One of two doctors in the group, Dan Quemby, was the first person to run to Mr Dauncey's aid.

He made a may-day call on the group's emergency radio, but the waves created by the storm they were facing made it impossible for the rescue boat to approach.

Viewers were left in suspense after Mr Dauncey's fall, which could have left him paralysed, but the gap-year student took to social media last night to make light of the situation.

In episode one of the show 16 contestants - eight men and eight women - were dropped on opposite sides of the island.

They arrived by boat with only the clothes they stood in, basic medial supplies, enough water for 24 hours and key survival training from Bear and his team.

Across six episodes they will battle to survive on their wits and determination dealing with extreme weather conditions and environmental hazards.

Speaking before the show aired Bear Grylls, an adventurer, writer and presenter of The Island, said: "We wanted to take this season to the next level and putting men and women together was the natural progression.

"It is easy to assume that this will turn into a battle of the sexes – but in truth it is much deeper than that and is a battle for survival - that’s not about gender or how big and tough someone may look, that’s about mental strength and character.”

The Island with Bear Grylls returns on Channel 4 on Monday at 9pm.