Can’t park there mate!: Bumbling driver’s car rolls into sea in Sandbanks after motorist got out to get ice cream
- As the woman ran to get an ice cream, the car rolled into Poole harbour
- The chain ferry between Sandbanks and Studland was halted because of the car
A car plunged into the sea at Sandbanks today after a driver got out to get an ice cream and forgot to put on the handbrake.
The woman had parked her Ford Focus on the ramp while waiting for the Sandbanks chain ferry in Poole, Dorset when disaster struck.
As she eagerly ran off to get an ice cream, the black car rolled away and sank into Poole Harbour.
There was no one else in the vehicle at the time of the incident, which occurred just after 2pm earlier today.
The chain ferry – with signs telling motorists to use their handbrakes – had just left the Sandbanks side when it happened. The service bound for Studland was later suspended due to the submerged car.
As the woman eagerly ran off to get an ice cream, the black car rolled away and sank into Poole Harbour. A dredger later lifted it out of the water
Pictured is the car being lifted out of the water and onto a dredger after it rolled into the sea off Sandbanks this afternoon, triggering an emergency response
Chain ferry passengers watch as the car is lifted out of the water after it fell into Poole harbor earlier today
After rolling into the harbour, the car was seen bobbing in the water a few feet from the ramp, with the multi-million pound Sandbanks mansions in the background.
The car sank completely minutes later. Port officials and coast guards later worked to recover the vehicle before it caused a pollution incident.
Allan Norman, coastal operations officer at HM Coastguard, said: ‘We received a telephone call to say that a Ford car had entered the water at 2.30pm just down the slipway to the chain ferry entrance.
“The driver is safe and sound. I understand she got out of the vehicle and then rolled into the water.
“Our first concern is to make sure everyone is safe and we need to get to the vehicle to prevent contamination and make sure the chain ferry is safe to sail.”
Witness Heidi Garsden, 36, a prison officer, said: ‘The lady went in to buy an ice cream and when she came back the car was gone.
The car floated in the water for a while before sinking.
“It must have been heartbreaking for her to watch.”
The driver allegedly left the crime scene after being picked up by friends after the incident.
A diver retrieved a laptop from the car while it was still below the surface. The entire car was later lifted out of the water
The chain ferry – with signs telling motorists to use the handbrake – had just left the Sandbanks when the car plunged into the water. The car was later pulled out of the water
The car floated underwater a few feet from the ramp when a dredger lifted it out of the harbor
The Coast Guard is on scene after a car rolled into the sea off Sandbanks this afternoon prompting an emergency response
One tourist said: ‘Apparently she jumped out of her car to get an ice cream and released her handbrake.
“The shopkeeper told her a car rolled down the ramp and it was hers.”
Two police cars and two Coast Guard teams were present at the incident and a diving team is looking for the vehicle so it can be recovered.
A spokesperson for Dorset Police said: ‘We received a report of an incident involving a car in the water off Banks Road in Sandbanks, Poole at 2.22pm.
“Agents have been on site and are in contact with the coast guard and the harbor master.
“The incident has resulted in the shutdown of the Sandbanks Ferry and congestion in the area. Motorists are advised to avoid the area if possible.
“The car has been confirmed to be empty and there are no reports of injuries.”
The Sandbanks ferry was temporarily shut down, but services resumed after about an hour.