Elderly driver’s miracle survival despite reversing car off 60ft cliff
The man appeared put his car into switch sides by accident while waiting to pick up his wifey, a witness said
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- 05:08, ten MAY 2017
- Updated 07:22, ten MAY 2017
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An elderly driver has miraculously survived despite reversing his car 60ft off a sheer cliff.
It is believed the man from Bodmin, Cornwall accidentally reversed at Fresh Polzeath on Monday afternoon.
He was airlifted to Derriford hospital, Plymouth after firefighters managed to cut him free and is now in a stable condition.
Police, coastguard rescuers and a lifeboat got the call on Monday afternoon.
Joe Comebellack was there and said it all happened so prompt.
He said: “I think he was very likely parking up because he had to pick his wifey up.
“Then he must have slipped reversing and went straight over.
“I heard a massive bang so I looked over.
“Next minute I eyed two people leap out of the way and he’s just gone right over the edge of the cliff”.
Police said the incident happened at Altantic Terrace in Fresh Polzeath at around 3pm on Monday afternoon.
The driver was taken to Derriford Hospital by air ambulance after being treated by paramedics at the scene.
Officers say the man was the only occupant of the vehicle, a Hyundia i20, which landed on the beach after ripping off 50-60ft below.
They were at the scene along with Coastguard rescuers and the Rock lifeboat.
A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said: “Police were called at Trio.55pm after a report of a car having gone over a cliff at Atlantic Terrace, Fresh Polzeath, Wadebridge.
“The Hyundai I20 has fallen down 50-60 feet and landed on the beach below.
“The elderly masculine driver from Bodmin – the only occupant of the vehicle – was originally trapped in the vehicle.
“He has been extracted and treated by paramedics.”
“He is being taken by lifeboat to the air ambulance and will be taken to Derriford Hospital – we are unclear on injuries.
“Police, ambulance, air ambulance, fire service and Falmouth Coastguard/RNLI are on the scene”.
Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service said crews from Wadebridge, Delabole and a rescue tender from Bodmin were called to help.
Three specialist officers were also on the scene after the car went over into a narrow gully.
A spokesperson said: “The Fire and Rescue Service received a call to a car that had fallen onto a beach at Fresh Polzeath.
“Appliances from Wadebridge, Delabole and a rescue tender from Bodmin along with three specialist officers were scrambled.
“This was a single vehicle which had gone over a cliff in a narrow gully.
“One casualty was released and was in care of the ambulance service.
“Coastguard and ambulance both attended”.
A spokesperson for Falmouth Coastguard added: “We assisted the police by extracting the person from the vehicle and took him onto the lifeboat.
“From there he was transferred into the forearms of Cornwall Air Ambulance.”