A car with learner plates plunged 17ft into a harbour in Carmarthenshire, Wales, with emergency services scrambled to the scene. Three fire crews, paramedics, the coastguard and police rushed to the scene after the car, a dark-coloured Mercedes, crashed down the slipway of Burry Port Harbour just after 9pm on April 13.
Two people were stuck inside the vehicle after it smashed into a bench.
Mid and West Wales Fire Service rescued both people, helping them out of the car and back up to the slipway using a seven-metre ladder.
Paramedics checked the pair over after the ordeal.
A statement from Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service read: “At 9.05pm on Thursday, April 13, crews from Llanelli, Carmarthen and Swansea Central were called to an incident at Burry Port Harbour.
“One private motor vehicle had left the harbour slipway and dropped approximately 5 metres with two casualties inside. Both casualties were rescued by the crews using a 22ft ladder, who were then checked over by the paramedics in attendance. Dyfed-Powys Police and the Coastguard were also in attendance and Fire and Rescue Service boats were also utilised as part of this incident. Crews left the scene at 9.44pm.”
A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesman added: “We were called to reports of a car crashing into Burry Port Harbour at 8.45pm on Thursday, April 13. Officers attended along with fire service and Coastguard. The tide was out at the time and two people were helped from the car and the mud in the harbour.”
Carmarthenshire council said: “We are liaising with the police, harbour operator, and other key agencies to ensure that the owner can arrange for the safe removal of the vehicle involved, and to ensure that the wider harbour area is safe for users.”
Burry Port is small Welsh port town with a population of around 6,000.
The tiny town is noted for being the spot that aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart landed on June 18 1928, making her the first woman to be flown across the Atlantic.
An Amelia Earhart festival was held in June 2003 to mark the 75th anniversary of the landing in the harbour, which to this day retains a plaque and engraved flagstones in her honour.
