Teen escapes drowning after car crash

Photo / Greg Bowker

A 16-year-old boy came within seconds of drowning after the car in which he was a passenger ended upside down in Otago Harbour.

Dunedin police said the station wagon heading toward Port Chalmers failed to take a right-hand bend near Deborah Bay and crashed into the harbour about 8.15am on Saturday.

The 19-year-old driver escaped the vehicle but returned to pull the unconscious 16-year-old out.

It was believed the boy was trapped for about three minutes.

The pair were taken by ambulance to Dunedin Hospital with moderate in juries.