Five teenagers in a car had a miracle escape from death when it plunged 100ft over a cliff.

Police said it was "remarkable" the five - three boys and two girls - were not killed instantly yesterday when the blue F-registration car crashed down the cliff at King's Parade in Eastbourne.

One of the teenagers was fighting for his life today at Eastbourne District General Hospital while the two girls and a third boy were in a serious condition.

A third boy escaped serious injury and was able to talk to paramedics at the scene.

The accident happened as the driver attempted a three-point turn.

Seventeen-year-old Peter King was thought to have passed his test only a week ago.

The girls have been named as Katie Thompsett, 17, and Kelly-Anne Phillips, 18. The other two boys have not yet been named. All five are thought to have met at Cavendish School in Eastbourne.

A team of more than 30 rescuers, including police, coastguards, fire brigade and Sussex Ambulance personnel battled to free two teenagers from the car and treat three others who lay injured on the beach.

The incident happened at 5pm yesterday at an area known as Sugar Loaf, near King's Drive and opposite St Bede's Primary School.

It is believed Peter drove down a narrow lane at the side of St Bede's before attempting to turn round in a grassy area of no more than 20ft sq on the edge of the cliff.

The Fiesta was seen by walkers tumbling down the cliff face and landing on its roof on the beach below.

Rescuers faced a race against time to deal with the victims, all from Eastbourne, as the tide was coming in.

The Sussex Police helicopter and another from the Solent Coastguard were called in to airlift the wounded to Eastbourne District General Hospital.

Insp Bruce Matthews, of Eastbourne police, said at the scene: "At this stage this appears to have been a tragic accident.

"At the moment all we can do is make sure the wounded get the best medical care."

Witness Carl Davis, 57, of Eastbourne, who enjoys regular walks on the beach, said:

"I could not believe my eyes.

"I saw a blue flash and then the car bouncing from the cliff. People were flying out as it came down.

"I was very shocked. Five minutes before it would have hit me as I had been walking along the beach.

"I have never seen anything like it before and I never want to see it again."

Another witness, Ian Scothrom, 38, from Brighton, said: "I was sitting on the breakwater looking over in the direction of the cliff when I saw the car come over front first. It looked like it struck the cliff and did a somersault before landing upside down.

"I ran over to see if anybody had a mobile phone to call for help.

"When I realised they didn't, I ran to the Hollywell Cafe on the beach and told the people behind the counter."

Sgt John Tickner, of the Sussex Police helicopter unit, paid tribute to the crews who battled an incoming tide and sheer cliff face to airlift all five youngsters.

Sgt Tickner praised his chief pilot, Ian Brown, who had to use all his flying abilities to land the helicopter on three separate occasions.

Sgt Ticker said: "It was not the easiest of landing sites. The tide was coming in so they did not have much beach to play with.

"It is not easy but we train at Beachy Head for this sort of thing."

The injured were taken off the beach in a relay system, with paramedics putting them on back-boards and the helicopters taking them to the hospital two minutes' flying time away.

It took the Sussex Police helicopter just eight minutes to get to Eastbourne from its base in Shoreham 20 miles away.

Coastguard watch manager Colin Mulvana said: "Access to the scene was somewhat distant from the road so it was decided to use the rescue helicopter in order to rush the injured to hospital."

Insp Matthews, who said it was remarkable the five had survived, said: "No drugs or alcohol was found in the car."

Eastbourne Borough Council said access to the lane along which the teenagers travelled to reach the cliff top was normally restricted by a locked gate.

Deputy leader Bob Lacey said: "I can confirm Eastbourne Borough Council owns the road from St Bede's School to the Southern Water pumping station on Eastbourne Downs, which runs parallel to the cliff edge.

"Access to the road is normally restricted by a padlocked gate."

At least two of the teenagers are students at Park College in Eastbourne, the town's main sixth form college.

Deputy principal Jorj Kowszun said: "All the teachers here are very upset and shocked. Many have children themselves and our hearts go out to the parents at this time.

"We are appalled and horrified by what has happened."

Road crash investigators were today back at the scene trying to piece together what happened to the Fiesta before it dropped 150ft to the beach.

Chief Inspector Steve O'Rourke said: "It appears the crash followed a slow speed manoeuvre. There is no evidence of any dramatic braking or acceleration.

"The impact when the car crashed down would have been massive. I am very surprised anybody survived."