Heroic passers-by dive into lake to rescue pensioner and his dog from sinking car

This is the incredible moment a pensioner and his dog were rescued by passers-by after his car dramatically plunged into a lake.

Three heroes rushed to the aid of the man, who is in his 70s, after the car began to sink.

The trio dived into the lake in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, on Sunday afternoon, managing to pull the driver to safety.

Rescuers attempt to smash the window (SWNS)

The video footage shows the swimmers banging on the glass window of the car in a bid to break it.

As the car begins to sink the female and two males manage to get the back door of the car open and pull out the pensioner before it is swallowed up.

Onlooker Alex Kerr, 29, filmed the footage from a nearby cafe.

The accountant, from St Albans, said: “It was quite surprising to see as we were just sitting and having a coffee when we heard this big crunch noise.

An onlooker filmed the incident (SWNS)

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"When we looked up we just saw this car floating into the lake, but it had already gone through a metal bollard and chain.

"It just floated off but it took a while for any of us to realise someone was in there as he was sitting so still inside.

"As soon as they realised they jumped straight in to help him, they were great.

"They couldn’t get the door open so they tried to break the windows as it was going down and then they managed to open the back door.

"As soon as that door open it started to go down quickly but they managed to get him out and all that ended up showing of the car was the open boot."

_The car is pulled from the lake (SWNS) _ Hertfordshire police were called at 12.49pm to reports of a car entering the lake at Stanborough Park.

The rescued man, from nearby Potters Bar, was treated at the scene and taken to hospital but is believed to be uninjured.

(Credit:SWNS)