Car load of people plunges 25m down bank into river near Thames

The vehicle landed 25m down a bank and upside down in the Kaueranga River on Sunday evening. Photo / Thames Volunteer Fire Brigade

A car load of people had a "very lucky" escape after their vehicle plunged 25m down a bank into a river near Thames.

Fire and Emergency crews responded to the crash in the Kauaeranga Valley about 5.10pm yesterday.

The vehicle had landed upside down, submerged in water.

"On arrival we discovered that five (VERY lucky) occupants of the vehicle that had careered down a 25-metre bank had extricated themselves from the upside-down, submerged car with the assistance of some locals," the Thames Volunteer Fire Brigade wrote on Facebook.

Thames firefighters help stabilise and treat a person injured in the crash. Photo / Thames Volunteer Fire Brigade

Firefighters helped perform first aid alongside St John before setting up a landing zone for the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter.

Chopper crews then winched three of the five patients to safety and where St John staff could treat them.

A St John spokesman confirmed they had four patients, with one being airlifted to Waikato Hospital with serious injuries.

Two others had moderate injuries and another had minor injuries and were taken to Thames Hospital by ambulance.