Police are continuing to investigate the deaths of two people after a car plunged 300ft from a cliff at a well-known coastal landmark.
A car left the road and went crashing into the water at Alum Bay on the Isle of Wight on Friday evening, as holidaymakers looked on in horror.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police confirmed on Sunday evening that two people has died, The Isle of Wight County Press reported.
Cops have been carrying out enquiries and were seen at an address in Cowes later on in the evening. It has not been confirmed what the scope of their probe is.
Coastguard, police, firefighters and ambulance crews all rushed to the scene and photos showed them working to get to the car.
Witnesses said they watched on as a man was pulled from the wreckage and onto the shore. Response teams were then reportedly seen commencing CPR on one of the casualties.
Photos of the aftermath show the wreckage of the car submerged in the water. With the roof and bonnet crumpled, while coastguard searched around it.
In a statement released on Friday evening, the police said: ‘We’re currently at the scene of a serious incident in Totland.
Dramatic pictures show the car at the bottom of the 300ft cliff in Alum Bay
The car landed at the bottom of the cliff, where it was half-submerged with its bonnet and roof crumpled
It is understood a man was recovered from the water by a lifeboat volunteer
Police blocked the entrance to The Needles Landmark Attraction on Friday
A coastguard helicopter was called to the scene and winched rescue teams down to assist
‘We were called at 7.21pm this evening after a car, which was being driven along Alum Bay New Road, left the road, came off the cliff top and came to rest in the water below.’
Emergency services rushed to the scene and a winchman was lowered from the coastguard helicopter down to the bottom of the cliff.
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance landed at Yarmouth where two ambulances, a critical care paramedic and Police had relocated awaiting the arrival of a casualty.
Two coastguard teams responded and were stood down in the early hours of Saturday morning.
The cliff sits near the world-famous Isle of Wight Needles, which is a row of three stacks of chalk that rise about 30 metres above the water.
Near the landmark is a small theme park with a viewing point and chairlift down to the beach, with views of The Needles.
The attraction brings in thousands of visitors every year and is one of the most popular tourist destinations on the island.
The Needles Landmark Attraction was closed by police yesterday while emergency teams attended the incident.
The silver vehicle fell into the water below the cliff on Friday
Police, firefighters, paramedics and coastguards all attended the scene following reports of a ‘serious incident’
The HM Coastguard rescue team was part of a major emergency response
A lifeboat crew responded to the crash and performed CPR on one of the casualties
Emergency services were called at around 7.20pm on Friday to Alum Bay in the Isle of Wight
Access to the beach, an observation tower and the Needles Old Battery fort were also restricted.
Despite the incident, a one-day yacht race around the Isle of Wight, named The Round the Island Race, still went ahead yesterday.
Yachts passed Alum Bay, where the car fell.
The annual event is organised by the Island Sailing Club.
The race attracts more than 1,200 boats and around 10,000 sailors a year.
It is one of the largest yacht races in the world.
