The last person to see tragic Ivory Wave victim Michael Bishton alive, has told how he was running next to the edge of cliffs with his arms out “as if he could fly”.

Pensioner Phillip Batchelor was horrified to see Michael, 24, “bouncing around like a livewire” on the brink of the precipice.

Shortly afterwards, Michael plunged 300ft to his death – unaware that his fiancée Sammy Betts, 21, was pregnant with their second child.

Mr Batchelor, 75, was walking his dog Mutley at 8am on Friday on cliffs at Culver Down, near Sandown.

He spotted Michael wearing an England top and acting strangely on the wrong side of the safety fence.

He said he feared that Michael would jump or fall to his death but did not dare intervene because he seemed out of control.

Speaking today, retired crane driver Mr Batchelor said: “

“He was just bouncing and running around, showing off by the edge.

“He seemed to have boundless energy, bouncing around like a livewire.

“He was stretching his arms out sideways like a Dambuster as if he thought he could fly.

“But at 75, I was not going to climb over a fence to see if I could help him.

“He was a big lad and could easily have picked me up and chucked me over the edge.

“I nearly lost sight of him and could just see his head in the distance but then he came back.

“The last thing I saw was him apparently stretching his hamstrings as he was facing the sea. I never saw him jump or fall.”

Michael’s body was found at sea off the coast of Bembridge, Isle of Wight, at 2pm on Saturday and coastguards believe he had been in the water between 24 and 36 hours.

Dr Jenifer Smith, Director of Public Health and Chief Medical Officer for NHS Isle of Wight and the Isle of Wight Council, said: “There are two main types of legal high, which can be chemical or herbal. The effects of taking them are unpredictable for each person. Some people wrongly assume these drugs are harmless just because it’s lawful to buy them. Government advice says the chemicals in legal highs have, in many cases, never before been used as drugs. They have had no tests performed on them to show they are safe.

“Certain legal highs have been implicated in some cases of death. Government advice warns that people will increase their risk of death if they combine other substances, drugs or alcohol with any substance that causes a ‘high’. Often people have no idea what they’re actually taking because the substance is not labelled correctly and there is no historical data available through research because these ‘legal highs’ are new.

“Our clear warning is for people not to experiment by accepting offers of ‘legal high’ drugs at parties or on the internet. Ask yourself whether you seriously know what ingredients make up the substance you’re thinking of taking? Your decision to experiment could have terrible consequences for your health, life and family.”

“We would also urge parents and guardians not to hesitate in questioning or challenging your children if you think their behaviour seems out-of-character or erratic.”

Isle of Wight police commander, Superintendent Norman Mellors, said: “Police officers have considerable experience in dealing with people who abuse all types of substances. Some of the side effects of these so called legal highs can be extremely severe. Long term drug addicts have told us that they have become psychotic, aggressive and hyperactive for extended periods of time due to their abuse of these ‘legal’ substances.

“We continue to work within the Community Safety Partnership to educate people that legal does not always mean safe, and prosecute traders who sell unsafe products. School and youth service programmes in support of informed and responsible parental guidance will help to protect the young people who are increasingly exposed to these highly dangerous substances.”

Anyone who thinks they could be affected by the issues surrounding ‘legal high’ drugs is encouraged to seek professional advice and help:

Frank: (National helpline www.talktofrank.com) 0800 77 66 00

NHS Direct (www.nhs.uk) 0845 46 47

Cranstoun Drug Services: 01983 812755

IDAS (Island Drug and Alcohol Service): 01983 526654

Get Sorted (Substance misuse service for under 19s): 01983 617660

Police: 101 or 0845 045 45 45

Crimestoppers charity (to give information anonymously) 0800 555 111.