File photo of the Otago rescue helicopter. Photo: Otago Regional Council
Two people have been rescued in Otago after driving off a seven-metre cliff onto a beach.
Police and other emergency services were alerted to the crash on Beach Road at Kakanui, Waitaki District, about 9.30pm on Monday.
The vehicle had driven off a grass lay-by and over the cliff, falling on to the beach
The sea was just reaching the vehicle and the two occupants were stranded on a small gravel beach, surrounded by high wet cliffs, police said.
Fire crews from Kakanui, Weston and Oamaru, and ambulance and police from Oamaru were at the scene, along with cliff rescue specialists from the Otago Search and Rescue squad and Dunedin Fire Service.
The rescue helicopter was called in from Dunedin and its crew winched the pair to safety in the dark.
The driver was taken to Oamaru Hospital with minor injuries and the passenger was checked and released without injury.
Police are investigating how the crash happened.