Taxi plunge reveals body

A man has been arrested and charged over the theft of a taxi that ended up at the base of a 30 metre cliff at Barrack Point last Friday.

The incident began about 11.30 am when a man allegedly forced the taxi driver from his cab at knifepoint in Headland Parade, Barrack Point. According to the owner of the cab the man caught the taxi from Shellharbour Square shopping centre.

Witnesses told police the taxi was then driven at high speed off the top of the cliff, falling onto the rock platform.

A number of police vehicles including police rescue vehicles, fire trucks, a hazardous materials unit and ambulance vehicles were on the scene quickly.

A crane was brought to the scene to lift the taxi from the rock platform. The taxi was towed to a holding yard for further examination.

Police arrested the 39 year old shortly before 11 pm on Friday night at Shellharbour Hospital. He escaped the taxi crash with only minor cuts to his left hand.

He was taken to Wollongong Hospital where he was checked before being taken to Wollongong Police Station and interviewed.

He was charged with armed robbery and stealing a motor vehicle. He appeared in Wollongong Local Court on Saturday.

While examining the wrecked taxi police located the body of a man believed to be in his late twenties or early thirties.