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Man Helplessly Watches Van Sink Into Sea After Driving Onto Beach

Man Helplessly Watches Van Sink Into Sea After Driving Onto Beach

The owner couldn't do anything to save his pride and joy

Dominic Smithers

Dominic Smithers

A driver found out the hard way that beaches probably aren't the best places to park your car.

Tim Curtis, was enjoying an early-morning walk along the beachfront at Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset, over the weekend when he spotted a grey people-carrier parked on the sand.

Upon closer inspection, the photographer noticed that rather than just simply sitting on the beach, the seven-seater Ford was in fact sinking.

And standing close by was the van's owner, who looked on hopelessly as his pride and joy was swallowed by the sea on Saturday (14 August).

Kennedy News and Media

According to Tim, the 'idiot' driver was a holidaymaker who had been trying to give his kids a better look at the sea.

And unable to free the motor, it was still trapped there the following day.

Tim said: "He deserves it. I have absolutely no sympathy.

"Most normal people would wait for the tide to come in, not go out to the tide. The water is a quarter of a mile away and this idiot decided to drive out to it.

"I can't believe it. After about 100m of the beach, it's soft mud, but he kept traveling about 200m before he got stuck. Nobody can believe he drove that far.

Kennedy News and Media

"There are signs on the beach saying 'please don't park beyond here', but nobody apart from the locals take any notice. You can't put up signs for idiots."

He added: "I just feel sorry for the people that have got to pull the car out. I hope they give him the bill."

According to Tim, the driver got stuck on Friday but the coastguard was unable to free it as the tide came in.

He said: "When the water came close, it washed the sand from the wheels and made the car tip to the left. It was still there last night [Sunday]."

"The bloke just walked away once the tide came in. I don't know where he went but he probably went to clear his head somewhere."

Kennedy News and Media

Somerset's coastguard unit confirmed they had been involved initially but that the owner was organising its recovery.

Matt Greatorex, Weston-Super-Mare Coastguard Rescue Team station officer, said: "We were called on Friday at 19.30 to reports of a vehicle stuck in the mud.

"When we arrived the tide had turned and was now flooding, however, all occupants had successfully made it back to the beach and were being looked after by the beach rangers.

Kennedy News and Media

"Our main concern was that no persons were in any immediate danger. We gave some safety advice to the occupants and ensured the public were safe. Once the tide had come in around the vehicle we stood down.

"The owner was making arrangements to recover the vehicle, and as a rescue team, we have not been involved since.

"Our advice would always be to take notice of local danger signs, check the tide times, and if you see someone in difficulty in the mud call 999 and ask for the coastguard."

Featured Image Credit: Kennedy News and Media

Topics: Beach, UK News, Car