A man literally fell for his girlfriend when he whisked her away on a romantic weekend to propose - and slipped and broke his ankle as he popped the question.

John Dardis booked a posh hotel for himself and partner Suzannah Newham and secretly planned his big moment for a clifftop walk on Saturday morning.

But just as he plucked up courage he slipped on the wet ground and broke his ankle and found himself unable to move.

The couple called out the coastguard who rushed to rescue them near Newquay, Cornwall.

The couple before John was about to be transported to the Royal Cornwall Hospital at Treliske

And as they waited John realised the clifftop was a better spot for the memorable moment than a hospital bed and seized his opportunity and proposed.

Delighted Suzannah, 36, said yes - and then celebrated by posing for photos with the coastguard who came to John's aid.

The groom-to-be later posted a picture of his ankle in a cast next to a bottle of champagne and thanked the rescuers for their "great banter" after the accident.

Newquay Coastguard quipped: "He literally fell for her."

The coastguard tweeted: "John and Suzie are from Bristol and visiting Cornwall for the weekend.

Proud Suzannah shows off her ring

"They decided to walk the coast path and John was intending a romantic proposal.


"He then asked Suzie to marry him. We are please to report she said yes.

"Congratulations to you both from all of the team."

Coastguards tend to John after his fall

The Cornwall Air Ambulance was also called out as John had fallen some distance from the nearest road, across several fields.

The spokesman added: "The casualty and his partner were located, his ankle was placed in a vacuum splint and he was given pain relief, then lifted over the fence and transported by the Coastguard to the waiting South West Ambulance Service crew at the road."

Regie Butler, Newquay Coastguard rescue officer, added: "It was an unfortunate accident but John was very stoic.

"The best man's got the best speech to give now."