A six-year-old boy has had a lucky escape after a 4WD crashed over an 8m cliff at Austinmer this morning.
Emergency services were called to Kennedy Rd just after 9.30am after the vehicle rolled more than 100m, crossed busy Lawrence Hargrave Dr and plunged over the cliff edge.
LATEST: Miraculous escape for six-year-old boy The boy, who was the only person in the car and was sitting in the driver's seat, was thrown from the vehicle just metres before it crashed over the cliff and onto the beach.
AUDIO: Inspector Paul Allman describes the boy's escape
The boy landed in lantana and, remarkably, suffered only minor cuts and bruises in the accident.
"It appears that the child has engaged the neutral gear of the vehicle and the vehicle has travelled down Kennedy St, Austinmer and over the embankment," Inspector Paul Allman said.
"Luckily the child was ejected prior to the vehicle going over the final drop, which is estimated to be between 8-12 metres."
A witness, Elizabeth Kingston, said the accident happened in a matter of seconds.
"I just can't believe nobody was hurt," she said.
"He's just a very lucky boy.
"The car took off straight past the (lamp post) straight down the cliff. One second later I had the phone in my hand ringing triple 0."
View Boy's lucky escape as car plunges off cliff in a larger map
The boy's parents had parked the vehicle on Kennedy Rd and gone into a house with the boy to visit a relative.
Shortly afterwards the boy's parents noticed he was missing.
Witnesses told police they saw the boy sitting in the driver's seat as the vehicle careened down the road.
The 4WD rolled down Kennedy Rd and across Lawrence Hargrave Dr, remarkably without hitting any other vehicles.
"He's a very, very lucky boy, it has crossed a very busy road in the northern suburbs," Insp Allman said.
The vehicle then rolled down a steep driveway and through several fences before crashing onto the beach.
The 4WD landed with its front end facing the cliff, suggesting it had flipped over in the fall.
Insp Allman said the vehicle was veing salvaged but was expected to be a write off.
A NSW Ambulance spokesperson said the boy suffered cuts and bruises and was taken to Wollongong Hospital for further medical checks.
Insp Allman said police would speak to the boy when he was released from hospital.
"Our investigating officers will be conveying a clear message to him about entering motor vehicles without his parents," he said.
For full coverage see Wednesday's Mercury.
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