Man rescued three days after car drops 200 meters into valley in Gifu

Wednesday 12th November, 10:23 AM JST

GIFU —

A 58-year-old man, whose car plummeted about 200 meters into a valley on Saturday morning, survived the fall and was rescued on Tuesday, police said. Satoru Takeda, an unemployed man from Nagoya, was driving along a prefectural highway in Kaizu City, Gifu Prefecture at 4 a.m. on Saturday morning when he lost control of his vehicle.

Takeda told police the car went over the edge after he swerved to avoid a rabbit which jumped out on to the road. Takeda survived but sustained cuts to his left leg, and couldn’t move due to the pain until Tuesday morning, when he managed to get out of his vehicle and call for help. He didn’t have any food or drinks with him, and finally got some water from a stream nearby.

At around noon on Tuesday, a passer-by heard his calls for help, noticed the man waving some 200 meters down the side of the valley, and called police. A helicopter arrived about an hour later and took him to hospital.
During the rescue, aid workers also discovered a body under a different car on its side about 100 meters above.

Latest 15 of 23 Total Comments Show All

Spidey at 01:00 PM JST - 12th November

What's up with this story, Doc? Talk about a cliff hanger!

Need more info!

BTW...what's an "unemployed" man doing driving around at 4 in the morning? Hmmm...? Hah...? (eyes rolling)

S
powderfinger at 01:11 PM JST - 12th November

Stories like this are how I picture Gifu.
Proffessor at 03:00 PM JST - 12th November

My take on this one is that the guy could have been driving under the influence and had to wait till the suff runs out of his system to call for help. I can't buy the 'pain' story. Three days....Mmmm

Poor rabbit if there was any.
Wakarimasen at 03:04 PM JST - 12th November

Couldn't move because his leg was sore and then finally moved 2 days later? It got better. Gimp!
Nessie at 03:22 PM JST - 12th November

Takeda survived but sustained cuts to his left leg, and couldn’t move due to the pain until Tuesday morning, when he managed to get out of his vehicle and call for help.

Mod, this should be "call out for help". He didn't call anyone.
Nessie at 03:22 PM JST - 12th November

Why would you spare a rabbit? They'll eat you in a hearbeat if they get the chance.
Samuraiiki at 03:36 PM JST - 12th November

Seesaw: Not that I meant to run the rabbit over on purpose, but if I had a choice of going over the cliff, or running the rabbit, then it is either me or the rabbit. Do you get the picture?
seesaw at 03:45 PM JST - 12th November

Samuraiiki: I'm not trying to be anything...it's just the way you put it sounds like you're so cold-hearted man...
borscht at 03:48 PM JST - 12th November

Unemployed or retired? He's 58 he could have taken early retirement from some corporate job. Plus, the real story here is the second body under the second car. Will JT kindly do some follow-up cut-and-paste so we can learn more about it?
seesaw at 04:09 PM JST - 12th November

that's right borscht! we want to know what's the connection between the 2 men...does the man has something to do with it or did his accident lead he Police to an unsolved mystery...? we are not here to discuss about rabbits...that's rubbish..!
cleo at 04:46 PM JST - 12th November

It's natural instinct, if something dashes in front of the car, to swerve to avoid it. The reaction kicks in before the brain has time to register whether it's a rabbit, a child, another car or whatever. Something to do with signals from the optic nerve reaching the amygdala (something in the way - avoid it, quick! (fight or flight/panic reaction)) before they reach the cerebrum (it's only a bunny, flatten it (reasoning and planning)).

If you're driving and can make a rational decision about what to do about the bunny/baby that suddenly dashes into the road in front of you, you're either driving very slowly (much to be commended) or there's something wrong with your amydala (dunno if medical science can help....)

One reason for not zooming everywhere at full speed.
Samuraiiki at 05:03 PM JST - 12th November

Seesaw, Ok, I will be careful next time. Thanks for the concern. Peace and blessings to you!
seesaw at 05:22 PM JST - 12th November

thanks Samuraiiki...i didn't mean to be rude to you either, i just thought it's not a good way to put it. readers of this column may come from all ages....:) have a good weekend. cheers.
jwswiss at 05:45 PM JST - 12th November

"During the rescue, aid workers also discovered a body under a different car on its side about 100 meters above." Anybody else wondering what's up with this tidbit of info?
mediak at 03:26 AM JST - 13th November

Lucky man!