A father-of-two who plummeted 100ft in a hotel lift while on a stag do in Newquay is suing for a six-figure sum, after enduring terrifying flashbacks and gruelling physiotherapy.

IT analyst Stephen Dinsdale, 44, was on a stag weekend at Hotel Victoria in April 2010 and was travelling up to his room with five friends on the first day when the lift ground to a halt.

The stag party was told the lift would be manually winched back down to the ground floor by hotel staff, but while the rescue mission was taking place the lift fell 100ft to a sandy cove underneath the hotel.

The lift hit the concrete base of the lift shaft and the group endured a 45-miniute ordeal where they were stuck waiting for lifeboats to reach them because of the high tide.

An investigation into the accident uncovered that the lift had not been through a thorough examination since July 2008 due to the presence of asbestos.

Less detailed inspections of the lift, dated from 2008 - 2010, identified a number of defects and the lift had become stuck, with passengers trapped inside, on previous occasions, Mr Dinsdale’s lawyers claimed.

Walton resident Mr Dinsdale needed ligament reconstructive surgery as well as extensive physiotherapy and rehabilitation after the incident.

According to Russell Jones and Walker solicitors, the reconstructive surgery itself posed massive risks and he faced the prospect of losing his leg completely.

Mr Dinsdale said: “The whole experience was just terrifying, we were meant to be on a stag weekend having a great time but on the first day things just went drastically wrong.

“Although the accident itself was awful the lasting impact of my knee injury is what has really affected me and my family life.

“It breaks my heart that I can’t play with my children and they often ask why I can’t run around with them like all the other dads.

“The settlement will help me get the best rehabilitation so I can hopefully get my life back on track.”

Kimberley Owen, principal lawyer at Russell Jones and Walker, part of Slater and Gordon Lawyers, said: “Court proceedings have been issued as responsibility for the accident is yet to be admitted in full by the two defendants, Otis ltd, the manufacturer and installer of the lift, and PAVH International, which owns and runs the Hotel Victoria.

“We hope that the issuing of court proceedings will help focus the defendants’ minds and enable Mr Dinsdale’s case to reach a speedy conclusion so he can attempt to rebuild his life.”