Children escape shoreline car plunge

SIX children and a woman escaped serious injury after their car plunged 20 feet down an embankment.

The people-carrier landed on rocks on the shoreline when it went over a ledge on a bend on the Coast Road at Portmarnock, north Dublin.

The Irish Coast Guard helicopter flew paramedics directly to the causalities, as three appliances from Dublin Fire Brigade and up to eight ambulances rushed to the scene, near Portmarnock beach.

Firefighters lowered themselves down the grass bank to the car using ropes before freeing the occupants.

The children were rushed to Temple Street Children’s Hospital and the woman was taken to Beaumont Hospital for assessment.

None of the seven are believed to have suffered serious injuries.

Dublin Fire Brigade said five of the youngsters had facial injuries and were placed on spinal boardsas a precaution before being lifted back up the bank with 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 because of her injuries and was brought back up to an ambulance the long way around on a stretcher.”

The vehicle, believed to be a Hyundai people-carrier, left the road on a bend close to where a Martello Tower had been converted into a house at around 1.20pm.

The front of the car ended up facing the road and grass verge while the rear of the vehicle faced out to sea.

The stretch of road was closed during the rescue operation, but was later reopened.