A woman has described her terrifying experience after plunging into a 50ft ravine in her car.

Rochelle Garner escaped with just cuts and bruises after her car left the road and crashed down the steep banking on Rishworth Moor.

She described how she managed to pull herself to safety while injured, and has praised rescue volunteers and staff at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary for their ‘fantastic job.’

Rochelle, 31, from Ripponden, was following her partner’s car on the way back from picking her car up from her sister’s house on Sunday afternoon (August 6).

Calder Valley Search & Rescue Team attend accident after driver plunges into deep ravine at Rishworth Moor

As she cornered a bend on the A672 in the heavy rain, Rochelle skidded and left the road.

She said: “I recall the vehicle flipping three times and then it stopped and was resting on the passenger side and I noticed smoke coming from under the dashboard on the left.

“I climbed up to the driver’s side door and pushed the door up which was very heavy. I managed to climb out and jump off the car when I saw my partner run down the hill so I ran to her and she told me to sit down.”

Rochelle Garner

Emergency services were called and a doctor gave Rochelle oxygen before volunteers from Calder Valley Mountain Rescue Team pulled her up the banking on a stretcher to be treated by waiting ambulance staff. In all 24 search team volunteers helped in the rescue operation.

Rochelle, who works as a motor claims advisor, was taken to the trauma unit at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, but was later discharged with minor injuries.

She added: “I was lifted up to the top of the hill by the mountain rescue and what a fantastic job everyone did, it was so well organised and I felt really safe in their hands.

Calder Valley Search & Rescue Team attend accident after driver plunges into deep ravine at Rishworth Moor

“From the moment the emergency services arrived on the scene and to leaving the trauma unit at Huddersfield the care I received was amazing and to learn that some of the people who helped with the rescue were volunteers amazes me more.”

“No words could truly express my gratitude to these selfless people.”

Rochelle’s head was left swollen following the accident, but she is now recovering and taking things easy.

She added: “I am making good recovery, just a little exhausted.”