Police have charged a woman after she drove her car off one of the busiest stretches of coastline in Newcastle, injuring a mother and her baby.
A 46-year-old woman in a white Volkswagen Golf drove through barriers surrounding the elevated beachside car park about 10:15am on Thursday.
The car fell more than 20 metres off the cliff and landed on the rocky outcrop of Bar Beach below.
The outcrop is next to a naturally-formed ocean pool frequented by parents and their young children.
A 40-year-old woman and her 18-month-old baby were injured by the car and taken to the John Hunter Hospital.
NSW Police said the mother suffered a possible leg fracture, while her baby suffered minor scratches.
The driver of the car was also taken to hospital suffering multiple fractures and is in a serious condition.
She was charged with driving in a dangerous manner causing grievous bodily harm and was refused bail at a bedside hearing in hospital.
Eyewitnesses said off-duty doctors swimming nearby, and a lifeguard provided immediate assistance.
In a statement, NSW Ambulance said paramedics treated three people — two adults and an infant — at the scene.
"Eight crews and a specialist medical team were dispatched," a spokesperson confirmed.
Inspector Jason Saper from NSW Ambulance said it was a "miracle" no one was seriously injured.
"The car took a substantial dive off the cliff and it was a miracle to find everyone alive when we arrived on scene," he said.
"It was a significant fall from the cliff."
Inspector Saper said emergency crews did a "fantastic job today under very intense and difficult circumstances".
"When we are called to an accident like this, the scene can be quite chaotic," he said.
