A young child and two adults are lucky to be alive after their car skidded off a road and plunged 50 feet down a cliff landing on a ledge just a few feet from deep water.

All three -- two adults aged 73 and 80 and a nine-year-old boy -- were in the car when it skidded, smashed through a fence and fell down a sheer cliff, rolling over several times.

The driver, Mr. Elvin Phillips, and the child miraculously walked away from the car but Mr. Phillips' wife, Mrs. Edith Phillips, was trapped in the wreckage as it lay in water on the ledge.

Firefighters had to cut Mrs. Phillips free and she was taken to hospital along with her husband and the child -- although it is understood they escaped any injuries.

The accident happened on Middle Road nearly opposite Five Star Island at about 1.30 p.m. yesterday. No other car was involved.

It appears the car came around a corner and skidded on the wet road as the Mr.

Phillips, 80, of Scotts Hill Road, Sandys, lost control.

Police sealed off the road as firefighters scrambled down the cliff to cut Mrs. Phillips, 73, free from the car as the tide started coming in, although she was not in danger from the water.

She was taken to the King Edward VII Hospital, but the extent of her injuries and her condition is not known.

Firefighter Sgt. Colin Swan said: "The driver managed to get himself out and the child was also out when we arrived.

"The female passenger was trapped and it took about 25 minutes to get her out. All three were very lucky to be alive.'' Last night a Police spokesman said the three people "had a miraculous escape''.

"The driver apparently lost control and went through a wooden fence where the vehicle dropped down a sheer embankment. After rolling over several times, the car came to a rest on a ledge.

"The driver and the nine-year-old passenger were able to get out of the car, but the driver's wife was trapped in the front seat and had to be cut out by the Fire Service.'' Police are appealing for witnesses to the accident and anyone with information should contact P.c. David Gillies at Somerset Police Station.

Photo By David Skinner GREAT ESCAPE -- Two elderly people and a nine-year-old child survived when their car plunged 50-feet down a sheer cliff.