A £120,000 Range Rover SVR was completely swallowed by the rising tide in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, over the weekend after the driver attempted to rescue a friend's van stuck in the sand. The luxury SUV, along with a Transit van, became fully submerged as the rescue mission went disastrously wrong.
Failed Rescue Attempt Draws Crowds
Onlookers gathered as the high-performance 4x4 tried to tow the stranded van from the sea. The men involved even attempted to dig the vehicles free with a plastic spade, but after several futile efforts, the Range Rover itself became stuck. Despite offers of help from locals, the drivers rejected assistance, leading to both vehicles being overtaken by the incoming tide.
Eyewitness Sammy Hellewell, 39, filmed the bungled operation. She told reporters: 'Some local people did go down and give them some advice to try and use the jet skis to get it out of the sand, but they were quite rude to him and gave him the impression that they knew what they were doing and told them to leave them alone.'
Eyewitness Recounts 'Stupid' Behavior
Hellewell described the scene as 'absolutely stupid', noting that she recorded it for her father-in-law, who she thought would find the situation hilarious. 'The driver has clearly reversed it into the jet ski and got stuck. The Range Rover was fully mobile, and then the back wheels started to sink while they weren't paying attention,' she said. 'At points, they were trying to lift the front of the van. A lot of it was really stupid.'
By the time Hellewell left the scene around 10:30 pm, both vehicles were fully submerged, with only the van's aerial visible above the water. Rescue workers waiting for the tide to recede indicated that insurance for both vehicles would likely be void due to the circumstances.
Insurance Voided, Recovery Underway
'They said they would be billing the parties involved,' Hellewell added, referring to comments from rescue workers. Both vehicles were eventually hauled off the beach by diggers after the tide retreated. The incident has sparked widespread attention, with many highlighting the risks of attempting such rescues without proper equipment or expertise.
The Range Rover SVR, known for its high performance and luxury, is valued at around £120,000. The outcome serves as a costly reminder of the dangers posed by tides and soft sand on beaches.
