A car plunged from the A406 down a 15ft bank into the River Roding in Ilford in the early hours of this morning.
Firefighters had to free the 20-year-old driver, who was trapped in the partially-submerged car after the accident near the junction with Ilford Hill at 3.45am.
Crew manager Andy Watson was at scene with crews from Ilford station.
He said: “He had skidded across the lanes about 100ft and gone into the river.
“The bank must be about 12 or 15 ft.
“We had to go into the water but we managed to get him out.
“He was very lucky.”
Several ambulances and a hazard response unit were sent to the scene.
Paramedics treated the driver for shoulder, chest and abdomen injuries and he was taken as a priority to the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel.
Police said the injuries were “not life-threatening”.
The car is thought to still be in the river.
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