The California Highway Patrol Coastal Division said Wednesday its teams rescued a man who had been stranded for two days after accidentally driving off a cliffside.
On Tuesday, the Coast Division Air Operations Unit was asked to send out a team to search for a possible vehicle off the side of the coastline between Big Sur and Carmel after an employee of a local establishment did not make it home on Sunday night, authorities said.
Two units searched for the man. One of them saw the vehicle located approximately 400 feet down a cliff, not far from an isolated beach, the CHP Coast Division said in a Facebook post. The crew saw the man next to the car “waving a makeshift flag.”
CHP Coastal Division Air Operations rescues a man off the side of a cliff in Big Sur, California (PHOTO: CHP – Coastal Division Air Operations)
CHP – Coastal Division Air Operations
The other unit came in and rescued the man. He was taken to Natividad Medical Center in Salinas for treatment, the Coastal Division said. Despite spending two days off the side of a cliff, the man “appeared to be stable and suffered moderate injuries,” per officials.
Authorities said the man told them he swerved to avoid a deer while driving home late Sunday night, which led him to “veer off the roadway and roll several hundred feet down” the cliff. The man reportedly told the first responders he had been ejected through the car’s sunroof as the vehicle slid down the hillside.
There was no beach access or trails where the incident occurred. Authorities also said the man’s car could not be seen from the road.
ABC News’ Marilyn Heck contributed to this report.
A man was rescued after being stranded for two days when his car rolled down a cliffside in Big Sur, California. The harrowing ordeal began when the man’s car veered off the road and plummeted down a steep embankment, leaving him trapped and unable to call for help.
The man, whose name has not been released, was driving along the scenic Pacific Coast Highway when the accident occurred. The car rolled several times before coming to a stop at the bottom of the cliff, leaving the man with serious injuries and no way to escape.
For two long days, the man was stranded at the bottom of the cliff, unable to move or call for help. He survived by rationing what little food and water he had in the car and waiting for rescue.
Fortunately, a passing hiker spotted the wreckage and called emergency services. A team of rescuers was dispatched to the scene and worked tirelessly to extract the man from the wreckage and bring him to safety.
The man was airlifted to a nearby hospital, where he is currently recovering from his injuries. Despite the ordeal, he is expected to make a full recovery thanks to the quick actions of the rescue team.
This incident serves as a reminder of the dangers of driving along cliffside roads, especially in remote areas like Big Sur. It also highlights the importance of being prepared for emergencies while traveling, such as carrying a fully charged cell phone and emergency supplies in your vehicle.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the accident, but it serves as a cautionary tale for all drivers to exercise caution and vigilance while on the road. It also serves as a testament to the bravery and dedication of the rescue teams who risked their lives to save a stranger in need.
