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Couple’s car submerged by tide 'because they wanted to get closer to sea'

A couple's car was stranded after they tried to park close to the sea at Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset (SWNS)
A couple's car was stranded after they tried to park close to the sea at Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset. (SWNS)

A couple who “wanted to get closer to the sea” by driving on to a beach lost their car after it was submerged by the incoming tide.

The vehicle was left stuck on Brean Beach at Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, on Monday.

The local coastguard said the driver of the car drove so far out because he wanted to park as close to the water as possible, even though his wife asked him to stop.

The vehicle was stranded after its front wheels got stuck in the sand and the tide came in.

The couple were forced to abandon the car and leave it overnight on the beach, where it remained on Tuesday.

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Burnham Coastguard Rescue Team posted images of the car on Facebook.

It said: "A couple had taken their car on the beach and the driver wanted to get closer to the water.

(SWNS)
The car was submerged by the incoming tide after the couple abandoned it. (SWNS)

"Just as his wife said to stop, the front wheels dug in as the soft sand gave way under the weight of the car instantly trapping it as the tide advanced towards them.

"As we know, the tide in this area is fast and despite help from onlookers to free it before the cold salt water started lapping at the wheels, it would not budge.

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"The water continued to rise quickly until the vehicle was completely engulfed and submerged beneath the murky waves.

"Our team were responding to ensure there was no risk to any persons and when we arrived only the roof was visible which soon disappeared too.”

The local coastguard added: "This kind of error stirs up a lot of anger locally but we would like to say that no-one walks away scot-free in this kind of incident.

"This couple have lost their car, their transport home, their personal belongings and countless bills plus however long they will be without a car and that's without the emotional strain this brings."

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