A woman has cheated death after her car plunged over a cliff on to rocks 80 feet below.
The 45-year-old woman had to be airlifted to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee by helicopter after her blue Volkswagen Golf went over the edge of the cliff at an Angus beauty spot and landed on its roof.
Walkers watched in horror as the car flew over the grassy verge at the beauty spot at Ethie Haven, to the south of Lunan Bay, around 1.40pm on Saturday.
The woman, who remained in hospital on Sunday, only suffered minor head and back injuries and managed to get out of the car before being pulled to safety by a fellow driver.
Parts of the car broke off during the incident with the battery and engine flying out on to the cliffs.
The woman is believed to have been travelling along the coastal road when the accident happened.
The Arbroath inshore and all-weather lifeboat, on display throughout the day at the town’s Sea Fest, were scrambled by Forth Coastguard.
The crew of a nearby RAF Sea King helicopter from Lossiemouth overheard the Coastguard’s call to the lifeboat and offered assistance. The helicopter had been in the Cairngorms and was able to get to the scene quickly. It had a paramedic and doctor on board.WinchedA crowd of people watched from the top of the cliffs as a paramedic and stretcher were lowered down as the drama unfolded. The paramedic treated the woman’s injuries at the scene while the crew went to refuel the helicopter.
The Sea King later returned and winched the woman, who was conscious throughout, to safety.
A witness said: “The car just flew down the grass and flipped up on to its roof and landed on the rocks. It’s a miracle she survived.
“There was a couple driving behind the woman and they pulled up after it happened. The husband went down and helped the woman on to the rocks.
“The people who watched it happen phoned for help immediately. When you look at the state of the car it’s amazing she was able to walk away.”
Ward councillor Donald Morrison paid tribute to everyone who helped the woman.
He said: “I can’t praise highly enough the actions of the person who has risked life and limb to pull the woman on to the rocks.”
Mike Scott-Hayward, watch officer at Forth Coastguard, said: “We received quite a few calls, including from members of the public and the couple who were driving behind her when the car went over the edge.”
Police spoke to witnesses at the scene and have appealed for information.