Driver survives five-metre ravine plunge after crashing into elephant calf in Mersing

KUALA LUMPUR, July 1 — A late-night drive through Johor turned into a terrifying ordeal for a motorist after his car struck an elephant calf and plunged into a five-metre-deep ravine, leaving him trapped inside the mangled vehicle until firefighters pulled him to safety.

According to The Star, the 31-year-old man was travelling towards Felda Nitar in Kahang, Kluang, when the collision occurred at Kampung Pengkalan Bukit Asli along Jalan Felda Nitar in the early hours of this morning.

Mersing Fire and Rescue Station chief Mohd Alias Hussin said emergency crews received a distress call at 2.28am and dispatched nine firefighters to the scene.

The rescue team arrived at the location, about 27 kilometres from the fire station, at 3.03am.

“The victim was travelling toward Felda Nitar in Kahang, Kluang, when he hit an elephant calf before his car plunged into the ravine,” he said in a statement.

Firefighters freed the trapped driver before he was taken to Hospital Mersing with leg injuries.

The victim suffered injuries to his legs and was taken to Hospital Mersing for treatment.

Authorities did not provide any immediate information on the condition of the elephant calf.

However, videos shared by motorists later on Wednesday appeared to show the elephant calf had not survived the collision.