SOUTH BEND, Ind.-- A man lost control of his truck and plummeted into a ravine on Riverside Trail Sunday. Firefighters extricated the man from the truck and he was taken to the hospital for treatment.



The Battalion Chief for the South Bend Fire Department said it's a miracle that the vehicle didn't fall into the river completely.



David Maenhout said, “Our first issue was the stability of the vehicle. The vehicle was nosed into the river and there was just a spring shackle that was holding it up. He’s extremely fortunate.”



Around 4 p.m. firefighters rescued the driver by crawling into the truck and putting him in a stokes basket.



Maenhout said, “We strapped him in and it took quite a bit of manpower to get him up the ravine and the concrete wall here.”



Boats were also deployed into the water as a safety precaution.

One witness said the man was responsive and has a heart condition.



Police are still investigating the cause of the crash.