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Two people have died after a car plunged 300-feet off a cliff near one of Britain’s most well-known coastal landmarks.
The silver vehicle fell into the water at Alum Bay close to The Needles on Friday evening, as horrified holidaymakers watched on.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police confirmed this evening that two people have died, The Isle of Wight County Press reported.
Coastguard, police, firefighters and ambulance crews all rushed to the scene, with a man later being ‘recovered’ from the water.
Photos of the aftermath show the wreckage of the car submerged in the water. With the roof and bonnet crumpled, while coastguard search around it.
In a statement released on Friday evening, the police said: ‘We’re currently at the scene of a serious incident in Totland.
‘We were called at 7.21pm this evening after a car, which was being driven along Alum Bay New Road, left the road, came off the cliff top and came to rest in the water below.’
Emergency services rushed to the scene and a winchman was lowered from the coastguard helicopter down to the bottom of the cliff.
The silver vehicle fell into the water below the cliff on Friday and was left wrecked
It is understood a man was ‘recovered’ from the water by a lifeboat volunteer
With the assistance of lifeboat crewman, a naked male was hauled onto the shore and the response teams commenced CPR, Island Echo reported.
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance landed at Yarmouth where two ambulances, a critical care paramedic and Police had relocated awaiting the arrival of a casualty.
The cliff sits near the world-famous Isle of Wight Needles, which is a row of three stacks of chalk that rise about 30 metres above the water.
Near the landmark is a small theme park with a viewing point and chairlift down to the beach, with views of The Needles.
The attraction brings in thousands of visitors every year and is one of the most popular tourist destinations on the island.
The Needles Landmark Attraction was closed by police yesterday while emergency teams attended the incident.
Access to the beach, an observation tower and the Needles Old Battery fort were also restricted.
Despite the incident, a one-day yacht race around the Isle of Wight, named The Round the Island Race, still went ahead yesterday.
Emergency services were called at around 7.20pm on Friday evening to Alum Bay in the Isle of Wight
Police, firefighters, paramedics and coastguards all attended the scene following reports of a ‘serious incident’
Yachts passed Alum Bay, where the car fell.
The annual event is organised by the Island Sailing Club.
The race attracts more than 1,200 boats and around 10,000 sailors a year.
It is one of the largest yacht races in the world.
