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| Driver survives 200ft cliff fall | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A man and his dog were "lucky to be alive" after a 4x4 plunged almost 200ft (60m) over a sheer cliff. | |
| The driver was thrown from the Vauxhall Frontera at Chapman's Pool, near Swanage, Dorset. His calls for help were heard by a crew of a nearby yacht. | |
| It took rescuers about 20 minutes to locate him in thick undergrowth. His dog was thrown out of the vehicle on the way down but has been found unhurt. | It took rescuers about 20 minutes to locate him in thick undergrowth. His dog was thrown out of the vehicle on the way down but has been found unhurt. |
| The driver suffered two broken legs and is undergoing surgery. | |
| Portland Coastguard was called at about 0830 BST after reports a 4x4 drove off a cliff. | |
| Dog returns | Dog returns |
| A coastguard spokeswoman said: "The man and the dog are lucky to be alive. | A coastguard spokeswoman said: "The man and the dog are lucky to be alive. |
| "It was a hard rescue and crews had to follow the man's shouts to find him under the thick undergrowth." | |
| The 4x4 plunged down a sheer drop and rescuers had to be winched down to the wreckage. | The 4x4 plunged down a sheer drop and rescuers had to be winched down to the wreckage. |
| A police officer was also lowered to investigate the car but the cause of the crash is unknown. | A police officer was also lowered to investigate the car but the cause of the crash is unknown. |
| Shortly after the driver was taken to Poole Hospital a search began for his dog before it was called off. | Shortly after the driver was taken to Poole Hospital a search began for his dog before it was called off. |
| However, the pet has since been found at the top of the cliff after making its own way back. | However, the pet has since been found at the top of the cliff after making its own way back. |
| A Dorset Police spokesman said: "The vehicle plunged about 60m, there are no suspicious circumstances but we are appealing for witnesses." |