Pensioner Rescued from Sinking Bentley in Sandbanks Harbour
Dramatic footage captured the rescue of a 74-year-old man, Robert Hill, after his Bentley plunged into the sea at Sandbanks, Dorset. The incident occurred on Monday at approximately 5 pm when Hill's car accelerated unexpectedly and drove down concrete steps into the harbour.
The Harrowing Plunge and Daring Rescue
Mr. Hill, a retired funeral director, found himself trapped inside the sinking vehicle, unable to open the electric windows or doors as water rapidly filled the interior. Three brave shore fishermen witnessed the event and immediately jumped into the harbour to assist. They clambered onto the semi-submerged car and pulled Mr. Hill to safety through the sunroof.
The rescuers then escorted him back to shore as onlookers watched. Moments later, the Bentley, estimated to be worth £50,000, sank to the seabed at the entrance to Poole Harbour.
"I Would Have Died Within Five Minutes"
Mr. Hill was taken to the hospital for a check-up and expressed immense gratitude to his rescuers. "To the men who swam into the water to get me out, I can’t thank them enough for saving my life," he said. "I would have died within five minutes if it hadn’t been for those chaps.” He recounted that his car suddenly accelerated despite his attempts to brake, causing it to "dive into the water like a submarine." He told the BBC "it went down and under the water like a submarine" and he was convinced that he was going to have "an end the same as Titanic".
Recovery and Aftermath
The 2013 Bentley was later recovered from the seabed by the Poole Harbour Commissioners, who deemed it a potential hazard to shipping. The vehicle was winched from the water at 10:30pm and remains in the car park on the Sandbanks peninsula. A Poole Harbour Commissioners spokesperson commended the "swift and selfless efforts of those individuals on the quayside who assisted the gentleman from his car before it sank."
Sandbanks: Affluence and Notoriety
Sandbanks is an affluent neighbourhood known for its high property prices and celebrity residents. It was previously reported to have one of the highest land values per area globally. Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher and ex-Premier League boss Harry Redknapp are among those who live nearby. This is not the first time a car has ended up in the water near the ferry. In 2014 a woman was rescued from a passing boat after accidentally driving her car into the water.
