This was the dramatic moment a taxi driver was rescued by two holidaymakers after his car got stranded by the incoming tide on Brean beach on Sunday evening.
The motorist from Yeovil got into difficult in the incoming tide and his Ford Mondeo was completely inundated by the waves.
One of the holidaymakers who came to the man’s rescue was Dave Borton, who told Burnham-On-Sea.com how the incident unfolded. “I was concerned for his safety – he was trying to drive the car to safety through the waves even though the sea had totally surrounded the vehicle. I called the Coastguard and, with the help of another holidaymaker, we managed to get him out of the car and then a few of his belongings.”
The Polish taxi driver, Krzysztof Tomaszek (pictured on the left in this photo) who was shaken and cold but otherwise unhurt, thanked those who came to his rescue.
He told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “I drove onto the beach at 4.30pm and when I bought my parking ticket someone said I could stay until the beach closed at 8pm, but I was unaware that there was a very high tide.”
“We went off for a walk and I was shocked to come back and find the car surrounded by the sea. I managed to get in and tried to drive it away but the engine kept cutting out and two guys helped me out of the car by opening the driver’s door and getting some belongings out. They were just great.”
Brean’s beachwarden and Coastguards from Burnham-On-Sea were quickly on the scene but there was nothing that could be done to save the vehicle. Beach motorists have again been advised to check tide times before using the beach.
The taxi was left inundated by the high tide
Coastguards were called to the scene in Brean
The incident was watched by a crowd of holidaymakers
Holidaymaker Dave Borton was one of two holidaymakers who helped the driver
