A 32-year-old man has died after a car accident in La Palma took a tragic turn when he fell around 10 metres down a ravine after managing to escape from his overturned vehicle.

The incident happened late on Saturday night on the Vía Exterior in Santa Cruz de La Palma. Emergency services received an alert just after 11:30pm reporting that a vehicle had come off the road and overturned.

According to information released by the emergency services, the driver was able to get out of the wrecked vehicle by himself after the crash. However, while moving around the area afterwards, he fell down a steep embankment, suffering life-threatening injuries.

Paramedics, firefighters and police rushed to the scene, where the man was stabilised before being taken to hospital in a critical condition. Firefighters carried out a rescue operation to recover him from the ravine and transfer him to waiting medical teams.

Doctors confirmed he had suffered multiple serious injuries as a result of both the crash and the subsequent fall. Despite the efforts of medical staff, he later died in hospital.

A large emergency response was deployed, including ambulance crews, firefighters, Civil Guard officers, National Police, Local Police and Civil Protection volunteers.

The Civil Guard has launched an investigation to determine exactly how the accident happened and the circumstances that led to the fatal fall.

The tragedy serves as another reminder of the dangers motorists can face on some of the Canary Islands' winding and mountainous roads, particularly at night when visibility can be reduced.