Worthing driver survives 100ft cliff fall

The driver was able to escape from his Ford Focus and make his way to the rocks following the incident, in Roedean, near Brighton, which happened just after midnight this morning (Sunday, April 13).

Miraculously the 33-year-old man suffered little more than cuts, bruises and other minor injuries a spokesman for Sussex Police said.

The falling car managed to clear the undercliff promenade after leaving the A259, landing in the water.

The lucky motorist is currently being treated at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

Chief Inspector Martin Pattenden said: “The driver is very lucky to have survived.

“I hesitate to use the word ‘miraculous’ but to fall in a moving vehicle off a cliff and survive the hazards at the bottom like rocks and to not fall into deep water is extremely lucky.

“But this could have been a very different story if it had been high tide.”

Newhaven Coastguard sent a cliff technician down a ladder supplied by East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service from the promenade to the beach to join firefighters and paramedics who were already with the man.

Sussex Police and the South East Coast Ambulance Service also attended the incident.

The Newhaven Coastguards used a rescue stretcher to pull the injured driver up the cliff.

Some 22 emergency service workers were on scene.

Brighton and Newhaven lifeboat crews also made a brief search of the area and checked the car for any other casualties.

The Ford Focus has now been recovered from the scene and the cause of the crash is under investigation.

Chief Insp Pattenden said the force is keen to speak to witnesses to determine the cause of the crash.

He is urging anyone with any information to call Sussex Police on 101.

*Do you know the driver? Email [email protected]