KEY POINTS:
A woman and her son are lucky to be alive after being pulled from their upside down, submerged vehicle after it crashed off a bridge into a Gisborne river this morning.
Sergeant Sean Buchanan of the Gisborne police said the Toyota was heading along Lytton Rd at about 9.10am when it appeared to swerve before crashing through the bridge railings into the Taruheru River.
"The entire cabin of the vehicle was submerged, Mr Buchanan said.
"Members of the public who had been following the vehicle immediately ran down to the river and pulled the two occupants free."
Mr Buchanan said the occupants, a 34-year-old woman and her eight-year-old son were unhurt, but in shock and suffering from hypothermia.
He said the rescuers had managed to unclip both seatbelts before pulling them out of the cold and muddy water.
"If not for their (the rescuers) actions, there may well have been a loss of life."
"Police would like to acknowledge the great efforts of those members of the public who were first on the scene," Mr Buchanan said.
The car's occupants are recovering after being taken to Gisborne Hospital for assessment.
- NZPA
