A YOUNG man who plunged 20 feet from a hotel balcony and is lucky to be alive has spoken of his phenomenal recovery for the first time.

George Stephenson, from Canvey, was left in a critical condition and in a coma after falling from a hotel balcony in Ibiza a year ago.

Now exactly one year on, the 23-year-old is still feeling “broken” but is refusing to dwell on the past.

He suffers pain and now has metal plates in his skull and spine, which were inserted during operations in Spain.

He said: “I feel I’ve been very lucky and feel blessed to be here. I’ve been told my recovery is phenomenal.

“My body is broken and I have pain and no feeling in some parts of the body and I just need to be careful. I have sleepless nights and at times can’t stop sleeping but I look at it very matter of fact and think I have to get on with it.”

He added: “I have no memory of the incident and when I woke up in hospital I thought I was at home and had to go to work, doctors and nurses were amazing but didn’t speak English.

“I felt very confused. The one year anniversary is very emotional for everyone and I now just appreciate the little things like driving and looking at the sky and am no longer taking things for granted.”

George fell from the balcony at Hotel Playasol Mare Nostrum while away with friends and was in a coma in private hospital Policlinica Nuestra.

The holiday-maker suffered various injuries including severe brain trauma, skull fractures and a fractured back vertebrae.

A fundraising page was quickly set up to support George, and his family collected more than £19,000.

The medical marvel added: “I feel I have to get on with it, I am still here and if I dwell on it, it could consume me and my mental health could get worse.

“It will restrict me and what I can do but I feel I can overcome these things and it’s not too bad.”

“Life is still worth living. I think there will be some fear about going on holiday and I’m not thinking of it yet.”