THIS is the moment a van gets submerged by an incoming tide after getting stuck on the beach in Cornwall – before being stranded all night.
A surfer is seen dodging the stricken Ford Transit in the clip after it was washed into the sea at Crackington Haven yesterday.
Gary BarnettA surfer glides by the stranded van[/caption]
Gary BarnettThe vehicle was stuck in the water overnight[/caption]
GettyThe coastline at Crackington Haven where the van was stricken[/caption]
The video footage shows the partially submerged vehicle just yards from the shore and with an inflatable boat moored to it.
A surfer is seen manoeuvring by the van.
The incident happened on Friday afternoon and the vehicle remained stricken there until this morning.
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Eyewitness Gary Barnett, who captured the video, said: “It’s probably a write-off.”
A worker at the nearby Cabin Cafe told The Sun today: “It was towed away by two tractors this morning.”
They said someone who they assume was the owner of the van was at the scene as it was pulled out of the water.
She added that cars getting stricken by the tide on the beach is not a common occurrence.
Another person, who works in the nearby Coombe Barton Inn, told us the van is currently in the “bottom car park” off the beach, with a crowd having gathered.
One of his colleagues at the pub, who saw the commotion yesterday, explained: “He drove onto the beach and wanted to launch his wib and got caught out.”
Asked if the driver had to scramble from the van, he said he didn’t see.
Referring to the video, another person said: “That’s my boyfriend surfing past. We went for a lunchtime surf but didn’t expect to have to dodge a van and a boat.”
Another added: “Not really brilliant. It’s a shame about all the fuel, diesel, oils, antifreeze and lubricants.”
Throngs of tourists rush to haul ICE CREAM VAN from the ocean
By Joe Hadden and Alex West
In July, a crowd of tourists rushed to haul a stranded ice cream van from the ocean after it had been swept out to sea.
The owner was left red faced after he popped to the loo.
The truck was parked on Harlyn Bay Beach near Newquay in Cornwall when its owner disappeared to answer the call of nature.
In the meantime the tide raced in and engulfed the motor, trapping it in the sand and waves.
Amazing videos show dozens of beachgoers forming a tug-o-war team to desperately try and pull the ‘Kelly Whip’ van from the sea with a rope but to no avail.
A 4×4 with a winch also tried to free it but it would not budge.
At high tide the van was seen almost fully submerged being battered by the waves as onlookers watched in disbelief.
Eventually when the sea receded around 9pm a tractor was able to drag it back up the beach.
Read the full story here.