Bar Beach: Car goes over cliff at Newcastle, three people taken to hospital
A father has watched in horror as a car plunged from a cliff at Bar Beach in Newcastle and struck his infant baby and its mother on the beach down below. The mother, baby and driver of the vehicle have been taken to hospital in a stable condition.
Newcastle
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A car “launched” off the side of a cliff at Bar Beach in Newcastle and struck a mother holding her infant baby down below, with the father watching on in horror as it all unfolded.
Police were told a woman, 46, was driving a Volkswagon Golf — with unconfirmed reports of a male passenger — in the beach carpark when it drove at speed off the cliff, hitting the guard rail and flipping, as it plunged 25 metres into shallow water.
A 40-year-old woman was holding her one-year-old baby when they were hit by the falling vehicle.
Police said people passing by gave assistance and were able to give “professional medical” help at the time.
The mother suffered a serious leg injury, the baby minor head injuries, while the driver had minor injuries.
All three were transported to John Hunter Hospital in a stable condition.
Jason Saper, NSW Ambulance acting inspector said it was a miracle no one was seriously injured.
“They are very lucky to be alive, it was a significant fall from the cliff,” he said.
“The car took a substantial dive off the cliff and it was a miracle to find everyone alive when we arrived on scene.”
“We did a fantastic job today under very intense and difficult circumstances.
“It was quite a large resource effort from our point of view, we responded an ambulance rescue helicopter, four-wheel drive and multiple intensive care paramedics.”
One witness, Denise Bloomfield was walking along beach when the car came crashing down.
“Me and a friend were walking along and we see this vehicle airborne, straight over and I said holy crap,” she said.
“It wasn’t slowing down, it was full on, it wasn’t going to slow.
“(Then it was) airborne, I heard a bang and it was gone.
“I took off down the stairs and went over there.
“There was a lady on the ground and I don’t know whether she was a passenger in the car, the car door was open and the driver’s door was closed, then people came onto the beach and opened the door and let her out.”
“She was walking and she was in pain and the old lady she was lying down.”
“I thought what the hell did she mistake the pedal for the clutch? I don’t know.
Chief Inspector Gerard Lawson from Newcastle Police said they will have to wait to talk to the driver to find out the circumstances surrounding the incident, urging anyone who witnessed it to come forward.
“Police would seek the assistance of anyone who may have seen the incident, who might have some dash cam footage to come forward with and contact Newcastle Police or Crime Stoppers,” he said.
“If there was a male passenger in the vehicle we ask that he come forward.”
He said he was amazed it didn’t result in a fatality.
“Very lucky, I have seen people not survive a fall like that,” Insp Lawson said.
“After 11 years in the crash unit, I’m very surprised we were left with minor injuries.”
Police will now wait for the tide to go back out before they attempt to recover the vehicle.