Mystery surrounds how an 18-year-old woman sustained serious injuries after allegedly jumping from the roof of a Southend nightclub.

The woman claims she plunged from Ad-Lib in the early hours of yesterday. However, the nightclub said CCTV footage does not show the incident.

The 18-year-old sparked concerns after telling people she had jumped from the roof of the club in Lucy Road. Concerned partygoers - on their way home at around 2am - alerted police after seeing the girl laying injured on the pavement.

She told them she had jumped. However, an investigation of closed circuit camera footage by the club's manager Glen Freeman, does not show the incident.

Speaking yesterday, Mr Freeman said: "The member of staff had been in the manager's office shortly beforehand, very upset and distressed about personal matters.

"She left the club but returned around 15 minutes later injured.

"We do not know how she sustained those injuries at the moment but we do know it was not by jumping off the roof of the club."

Police responding to 999 calls raced to Lucy Road at around 2am to find the 18-year-old drifting in and out of consciousness.

She appeared to be under the influence of either drink or drugs and had suffered facial injuries and grazing to her arms, elbows and hands.

The girl, who was yesterday still under treatment at Southend Hospital, is from the central Southend area. She is a member of staff at the club but was not working last night.

Detectives investigating the incident said they are unclear at the moment exactly what happened.

If you witnessed the incident or can help in any way, call Southend CID on 01702 431212or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

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