Emergency Crews Perform Dramatic Rope Rescue After 100-Metre Cliff Plunge in Coromandel

Fire and Emergency NZ crews perform a high-angle rope rescue after a car plunges 100 metres down a cliff on State Highway 25 in the Coromandel.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 14, 2026, 2:51 AM EDT

Source: RNZ Pacific

Midnight Rescue Operation

The incident occurred just before 1:00 am on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, near the intersection of State Highway 25 and Manaia Road in Kereta. The location, known for its winding coastal roads and steep drop-offs, necessitated a large-scale response from multiple local brigades. Emergency personnel from Manaia Hauraki, Coromandel, Tapu, Thames, and Tairua all attended the scene to coordinate the complex recovery.

Technical Rope Recovery

Due to the extreme depth of the plunge—estimated at 100 metres—standard rescue vehicles could not reach the car. FENZ crews established a high-angle rope system to lower rescuers down the cliff face. Upon reaching the vehicle, they confirmed there was only one occupant. Despite the vertical distance of the fall, the driver was successfully brought back to the road surface.

Injuries and Medical Status

Remarkably, the sole occupant of the vehicle survived the descent with what have been described as moderate injuries. Following the vertical extraction, the victim was handed over to waiting medical staff for assessment and transport to a local hospital. No other vehicles were involved in the accident.