A car has plunged several hundred feet over the cliff edge at Alum Bay near The Needles this evening (Friday).
The incident, which occurred at around 19:40, has sparked a major response by emergency services.
Police, fire, ambulance and coastguard teams are all on scene at the West Wight beauty spot, popular with tourists. A drone has been deployed.
Island Echo understands a car has been sighted in the water at the foot of the cliff, thought to have come off the narrow access road leading to The Needles Battery.
HM Coastguard has Rescue 175 helicopter, Yarmouth RNLI lifeboat and Coastguard Rescue Teams from The Needles and Ventnor on scene. A winchman has been lowered down to the base of the cliff.
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service and the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service both have several resources in attendance.
UPDATE @ 21:44 – 1 male has been recovered from the water by a lifeboat volunteer and a paramedic winchman from Coastguard Rescue 175.
The initial emergency response is now scaling down.
Elsewhere in the West Wight, the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance has landed in Yarmouth, where 2 ambulances, a critical care paramedic and Police are also in attendance.
UPDATE @ 23:30 – A spokesperson for Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary has said:
“We’re currently at the scene of a serious incident in Totland.
“We were called at 7.21pm this evening (Friday, June 6) 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.
“The road is currently closed while we carry out our investigations at the scene”.
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Maybe in future should stop cars going up this road
Buses only.
It is meant to be buses only, the only cars that are allowed up there are to do with the battery
I have been on the bus many times, beautiful scenery
but you usually see a Numpty motorist doing some strange
manoeuvres up there, same can be said for the Culver
down.
People should handle island Roads differently,
they are different to the mainland.
Once again you have been vile with your comments. Instead of spreading hate in every post, remember these stories involve real people. We have no idea of the situation of the person driving this car and my thoughts are with them. Keep your mouth closed and your fingers away from the keyboard next time. Imagine if this was someone you loved and you read comments like this?
Got to be honest this is a little OTT, I see no hate? People just saying that they think which is what used to make our society a better place. These days it seems any differing opinions or unqualified views are automatically titled as hate – this is a sad state of affairs. Of course people have sympathy with this poor driver. If it was one of my family members by the way, I’d prefer honesty, especially if it highlighted the dangers of ignoring the norms on our roads.
Don’t be a Numpty all your life,
I am just saying what I have seen over the years.
Nothing vile about that, maybe you need to go
back to school to understand the meaning of the
word vile!.
i know there’s always one who does drive up there when it’s meant to be buses only, I feel for the family of the gentleman,
there used to be signs stating that island roads are different please drive carefully when you came off the ferries
I remember those signs, they are so true.
Shut the f up, you heartless, self obsessed tw’’
Cars carrying disabled people who could not otherwise access the battery are allowed to drive up with advance permission. Are these the people you refer to as Numpties? A little more respect woudn’t go amiss.
Instead of writing pointless comments on just about anything, how about a bit of consideration for what has happened? This is a serious situation, and all you can do is use it as an excuse for your worthless comments. The only NUMPTY is you.
thinking of the person in the car
Indeed
Very true.
Thinking of the person in the car.
That is so sad, thinking of all involved in the rescue operation.
How do you know he wasn’t an islander? Anyone can see it’s a dangerous drive up there, you don’t have to be from the mainland to know that. You also do not go up there without some kind of reason…
Thoughts are with his family yes
People should drive carefully anywhere? I feel sorry for the rescue team, having to deal with this? Was it an accident? There’s been no update yet? Let’s hope this wasn’t intentional, cos if it was that poor person must of been so very desperate?