A couple in their fifties are recovering after their car swerved off the Bruce Highway at Bakers Creek south of Mackay, plummeting three metres from a bridge and onto the riverbed below.
Their Ford Ranger landed on its roof and paramedics said they were “lucky to be alive” because the tide was out at the time, otherwise their vehicle could have been submerged.
The incident happened at around 3.30am on Friday September, 23 and Queensland Ambulance Services (QAS) were first to arrive on the scene at 3.47am.
Less than ten minutes later, Mackay Fire and Rescue arrived with Area Commander of Mackay City, Mark Ashford saying that it took his team 26 minutes to extricate the couple from the upturned vehicle.
“Surprisingly the car was not that damaged,” said Commander Ashford.
“There was no cutting needed, we were able to get them out through the doors.”
QAS were on hand to assist the couple, the man was reported to be in a serious but stable condition having received head and chest injuries.
The woman was stable with minor chest injuries.
It is understood that a wild animal running across the road had caused the driver to swerve to avoid a collision.
Paramedics advised that motorists should always resist the natural urge to swerve when possible.
The Forensic Crash Unit is now investigating the exact cause of the accident and are appealing for any witnesses or anyone with dashcam vision to contact police.
The couple are undoubtedly relieved to survive what would have been a very scary experience.
Image: The vehicle plunged three metres onto a river bank
