A BACKPACKER plunged 80ft to his death from a "dangerous" cliff-top in Sri Lanka after losing his balance, an inquest has heard.

Tom Perry, 23, of Island View Avenue, Christchurch, died of multiple injuries caused by the fall and his body was found on rocks at the base of the cliff in Weligama, a popular tourist destination on the south of the island.

A Bournemouth inquest heard he had been travelling in the country for less than two weeks when he died in the early hours of June 25 last year.

Mr Perry had spent the evening eating and drinking at the Tiki Cliff Top Restaurant and Bar with a group of fellow travellers when he and a young woman in the group left the bar to sit outside at about 3am.

They crossed a rudimentary wooden fence but his friends believe the pair did not realise how close they were to the edge.

When Mr Perry stood up he lost his balance and fell over the edge.

His mother Joanne Perry told the inquest: "I don't think they realised how close the edge was. It was very dark as I understand.

"When he disappeared the friend he was with shuffled forward and her legs went over the edge. She had to grab on to some bushes."

She told the inquest her son had travelled quite extensively, including Asia and Europe.

He had been home before setting off for Sri Lanka on June 13th, where he planned to meet up with friends, and told his family he was having a great time when he spoke to them by video call on June 19.

The coroner received a report from police in Sri Lanka which indicated they had spoken to people who were at the Tiki bar that night.

A member of staff said there were about 15 foreigners who ate there that night.

Later in the night, a lady had come to him and said one of the people had fallen into the sea and he called the police.

The man described the wooden fence as being 3ft from the edge and said staff inform visitors not to go beyond the fence.

Following Mr Perry's death the bar closed for two weeks while the wooden fence was replaced with a 4.5ft concrete wall.

Rachel Griffin, the Dorset coroner, recorded a verdict of accidental death. She said: "Tom was clearly a very popular, caring and happy young man. He was very active in sports, a talented musician and very bright.

"He had a lot of interests and had a very bright future ahead of him. I'm sure his loss will cause great devastation to you and all around you.

"There is no evidence to suggest his death was anything other than a tragic accident, a spontaneous event with unintended consequences which sadly resulted in his death."