A teenage footballer is clinging to life in hospital after plunging from the second floor of a hotel in Port Pirie, north of Adelaide, early on Sunday morning.

Ricky Elley was rushed to the Royal Adelaide Hospital where he remains in a critical condition.

The 19-year-old hit the ground after leaping from the balcony at the Family Hotel and falling through some shade cloth.

Friends of the teenager have traveled to Adelaide to be with him as he continues to fight for life, while his brother came down from Queensland to be by his side.

The teenager was at the hotel for a party with teammates from the Central Augusta Football Club.

It is understood security guards were looking for the teenager at the time of the incident, but they were not chasing him when he made the jump.

John McCauliffe from the Central Augusta Football Club said it was an ‘absolute tragedy’.

“The whole club is hurting,” he said.

“About thirty or forty of the players were at the club yesterday and it was quite emotional.