Driver dies after 80ft cliff plunge at tourist spot in Cornwall

Updated
Driver dies after 80ft cliff plunge at tourist spot in Cornwall
Driver dies after 80ft cliff plunge at tourist spot in Cornwall

A man has died after his car plunged 80ft off a cliff at a popular tourist spot in Newquay, Cornwall.

Eyewitnesses alerted authorities after seeing the car go over the cliff at around 7.15am on Friday morning near the Atlantic Hotel and Tea Caverns.

The car landed on rocks just behind the water line, and the driver - who was the only passenger - was pronounced dead at the scene.

Driver dies after 80ft cliff plunge at tourist spot in Cornwall
Driver dies after 80ft cliff plunge at tourist spot in Cornwall

Philip Trebilcock, a fisherman working at the harbour, told the Daily Mail: "The incident happened near the old lifeboat house, just near the Headland Hotel.

"Two lifeboats are in attendance. It looks like the car has come a long way down the cliff. It's not near the water. The tide is going out."

Driver dies after 80ft cliff plunge at tourist spot in Cornwall
Driver dies after 80ft cliff plunge at tourist spot in Cornwall

A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall police told the Mirror the incident was not being treated as suspicious, saying: "This was an isolated incident and there don't appear to be any suspicious circumstances at this time.

"No other vehicles were involved and there were no other casualties.

"We do not know whether there was a medical episode, a mechanical failure of some kind or if this was a deliberate act by the driver."

According to the Daily Mail, RNLI lifeboats, four fire engines and coastguard teams assisted with the rescue mission. The man was taken to Truro Hospital from the scene.

Related articles

Daredevil photographer drowns in whirlpool in Cornwall

Mother in Cornwall speedboat tragedy has leg amputated

Advertisement