Police are investigating after a man and woman were killed when their car went over a 100 metre cliff on the Isle of Wight.
The bodies of the couple, who are believed to be locals in their 40s and 50s, were recovered from an upturned blue MPV-type car at the foot of Culver Down cliffs between Bembridge and Sandown.
Police, firefighters and coastguards battled against the incoming tide to recover the bodies after they were called to the scene around 8pm. The car is believed to have been in the car park at the Culver Haven Inn when it went down the side of the cliff.
Mike Forsyth-Caffrey, coastguard sector manager for the Isle of Wight, said: “We had a call from someone who was in the car park at Culver Haven.
“They saw a blue car drive quickly out of the car park, across the field, through the barbed wire fence and down the cliff.
“Once you are on that slope it is very hard to stop a car from going over the edge.”
He said they launched a coastguard helicopter, which was first at the scene, quickly followed by the cliff team from Bembridge.
“The winchman went down to the car and saw two deceased people lying on the rocks,” he added.
“The coastguard team arrived and confirmed they were deceased, then searched the area for anyone else.
“The firebrigade then came to Yaverland car park and we took nine firemen with cutting gear in the van along the beach to the car.”
He said the two bodies were removed by a lifeboat and taken to the local coroner’s office.
“The tide was coming in fast and it was getting dark so it was very difficult,” he said.
“It may have been a suicide as the car seems to have been going fast, but the police are now investigating and studying the tracks.
“The car doesn’t seem to have touched anything on its way down and landed upside down.
“We do get jumpers or cars going over the cliffs every few years. The last one here was about 15 years ago.”
The beach and cliff top car park have been cordoned off and police are investigating. Scenes of crime officers have been taking photos of the car this morning, which is still at the scene. Mr Forsyth-Caffrey said people normally parked in the car park at Culver Haven to visit the pub, take their dogs for a walk, see the view or watch the world go by. A man who was at Culver Haven at the time of the incident said he didn’t see or hear anything unusual.
“A family came into the pub and said they had seen the car and a man used his mobile to phone the police,” he said. “I didn’t see or hear anything myself.”
A spokesman for Hampshire police said: “The couple who died are thought to be in their 40s and 50s and from the Island but official identification has not yet taken place and next of kin are still to be informed.
“Police are now investigating the circumstances which led to the incident.
“A post mortem is expected to be held later today and officers will also be looking to recover the vehicles from the bottom of the cliffs at some stage today.
“Officers have the beach and the cliff top currently cordoned off while they investigate.
“Officers say they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.”
