A driver had an amazing escape after his car plunged off a 25ft cliff onto jagged rocks below with the tide coming in.
The vehicle came off the road at Portland Bill in Dorset at around 11.15pm yesterday.
It is believed to have gone straight over a roundabout, continuing for 200ft before plummeting off the side of the cliff near a lighthouse.
After the car ended up on its side in a crumbled heap, over 40 police officers, firemen and coastguard staff battled to free the driver, a man in his 50s.
Working against the clock before the tide came in, they managed to get him out and to safety in the ‘freezing conditions’.
The vehicle came off the road at Portland Bill in Dorset at around 11.15pm yesterday. Rescuers battled to save the driver who emerged with a number of injuries
After the car ended up on its side in a crumbled heap, over 40 police officers, firemen and coastguard staff battled to free the driver, a man in his 50s, at Portland Bill, Dorset
He was taken to hospital by paramedics and despite neck, back and hip injuries, and being in ‘a lot of pain’, is believed to be in a stable condition.
The cause of the incident is yet to be officially determined.
Tony Goss, of Wyke Coastguard, who took part in the rescue, said: ‘There is a little roundabout about 200ft away from the cliff’s edge and it appears he carried on and drove over it.
‘It has yet to be determined how and why he ended up there.
‘There is a 25ft drop on to the rocks which are covered at high tide.
‘With high tide approaching, it was a race against time to free him from the car during an already precarious rescue.
‘He was conscious but in a lot of pain and we had concerns about internal injuries due to the impact of him smashing against the rocks.
Working against the clock before the tide came in, they managed to get him out and to safety in the ‘freezing conditions (car pictured off cliff at Portland Bill, Dorset this morning)
‘The fire crews cut off the roof of the car and he was carefully extracted from its wreckage before being taken to hospital.
‘It was a miraculous escape. He’s very lucky to still be with us.’
The fire crew cut the roof off the car to get to the casualty, who was stabilised by paramedics before being carefully lifted from the vehicle.
The rescue involved members of Wyke Regis Coastguard, Portland Bill Coastguard, Dorset Fire and Rescue, Dorset Police, Weymouth Lifeboat and South Western Ambulance.
Crews returned to their stations at 1.30am.
A South Western Ambulance spokesperson said: ‘A patient was taken to Dorset County Hospital with neck, back and hip injuries.’
Pictured: The car came off a cliff near Portland Bill Lighthouse in Dorset last night