Man Survives 10-Hour Ordeal After Cliff Plunge on Great Barrier Island

Leon Foster, a 51-year-old resident of Great Barrier Island, spent a harrowing 10 hours trapped in his wrecked car after it plunged 20 meters off a cliff into a bay. His survival, he says, was largely due to the quick thinking of a local jogger who heard his cries for help in the early hours of the morning.

Foster was driving home from the local social club when he misjudged a corner, causing his vehicle to cartwheel down a steep bank. The car flipped three times before crashing into the water below. Foster said he must have passed out after the impact, waking up later to find himself stuck in the passenger seat with blood streaming down his face and severe abdominal pain.

"I thought I hit the water. I thought it was water on my face. My internal stomach was so sore. I couldn’t move," Foster recounted, describing the agonizing moment he realized the car had plunged into the bay.

With no phone and no watch, Foster was left alone in the dark, the only light coming from the bright moon. Water began seeping into the car, and he feared he would not be rescued. "I sat there and thought, ‘Oh, well, this is me,’" he said, describing his emotional struggle as the hours passed.

At about 6 a.m., Foster began honking his horn and shouting for help, believing no one would hear him in the remote location. But his desperate cries were heard by a friend who was jogging on the other side of the bay. She immediately alerted others, and a second friend rushed to the scene to call emergency services.

"She’s the first one that actually heard me and was straight on to it," Foster said, expressing his gratitude for the swift response.

An extensive rescue operation was launched, with first responders, including members of the local fire brigade and police, arriving at the scene. An ambulance worker climbed through the broken driver's window to provide first aid, while a rescue helicopter was called to extract Foster from the car.

"They had to actually chopper me out. Like a winch, put me on a stretcher and chopper me out of there and then take me to a secure location to secure me, and then chopper me to Auckland," Foster said, describing the dramatic rescue.

Foster was transported to Auckland City Hospital, where he underwent treatment for serious abdominal and head injuries, including a piece of glass that had pierced his head. He spent time in the ICU, including on his birthday, and was discharged last week, continuing his recovery.

"The rescue chopper team, oh my God, they are phenomenal. They were always checking in with me. They’re so professional. I can’t thank them enough," Foster said, expressing deep appreciation for the medical and emergency services teams who saved his life.

He also thanked his friends, who were on the scene, for their support and the care shown by the nurses and emergency responders. "They were so empathetic. I can’t believe how they made me feel. They were so caring and explaining everything to me and talking to me, not at me," he said.

Foster’s story is a testament to the importance of quick thinking, community support, and the bravery of first responders. It also serves as a reminder of the dangers of driving on remote, uneven roads, and the need for vigilance on the roads in such areas.