In a scene straight out of The Italian Job, Daniel Lyons was left hanging in mid-air after his vehicle plunged down the rock face and dangled on a precipice 170ft from the ground.

Terrified Daniel, 34, desperately tried to balance the weight of the van to prevent him from plunging to certain death.

But in his confusion he climbed onto the back seat which was already hanging off the cliff.

Rescue crews arrived at the scene of the accident at the Colorado National Monument and found Daniel cowering in the swaying vehicle.

They managed to manoeuvre him from the van and up the cliff face before he was airlifted to hospital where he received treatment for minor injuries.

Park Superintendent Joan Anzelmo said: "It's truly a miracle. Another few inches or a foot and that car would have continued on to the base of the canyon. No one survives those types of accidents. We're glad he's alive."