A WOMAN and six children had a lucky escape when the car in which they were travelling came off the road and plunged 20ft down an embankment.
All seven occupants of the Hyundai people carrier were brought to hospital but none of their injuries are believed to be life-threatening. The incident occurred at lunchtime yesterday between Malahide and Portmarnock in Co Dublin.
The vehicle landed on rocks on the shoreline after it went over a ledge on a bend on the Coast Road near Portmarnock beach. No other cars were involved in the incident.
The Irish Coast Guard helicopter flew paramedics directly to the casualties, as three appliances from Dublin Fire Brigade and up to eight ambulances attended the scene. Firefighters lowered themselves down the grass bank to the car using ropes before freeing the occupants.
The children were taken to Temple Street hospital and the woman was taken to Beaumont Hospital for assessment but a Garda spokesman said none of the injuries were life-threatening.
Dublin Fire Brigade said five of the children had facial injuries and were placed on spinal boards as a precaution and lifted back up the bank with the ropes.
“One child, a 10-year-old girl, was the most seriously injured with head injuries, spinal injuries and facial injuries,” said one firefighter.
“She couldn’t be lifted up because of her injures and was brought back up to an ambulance the long way around on a stretcher.”
The vehicle left the road on a bend close to where a Martello Tower had been converted into a house at about 1.20pm.
The front of the car ended up facing the road while the rear of the vehicle faced out to sea.
Gardaí are investigating the incident. – (Additional reporting PA)