Looks like the engine's flooded: Driver rescued from his sinking Porsche after crashing 160mph sports car into a dyke while reversing

Two eyewitnesses come to the rescue of unlucky motorist in Norfolk

PUBLISHED: 05:12 EST, 18 April 2013 | UPDATED: 05:12 EST, 18 April 2013

A driver had to be rescued from his Porsche by two bystanders after he reversed the sports car into a dyke.

The eyewitnesses jumped into the water in Coltishall, Norfolk and dragged the man out of his vehicle to safety.

The freak accident on Tuesday afternoon happened when the un-named motorist tried to reverse into a boat moored off the River Bure, and drove into the dyke instead.

Underwater: A Porsche 911 submerged in a dyke in Norfolk after reversing into the water

Embarrassing: The sports car's driver had to be pulled out of his vehicle by two helpful bystanders

Two men working on a boat nearby saw the accident and went to act as the Porsche began to sink into the 4ft-deep ditch.

Mark Platten and Sam Hall jumped in and helped the driver get out of his sports car, then hauled him out of the water.

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Mr Hall was walking along the river bank when his attention was drawn by a large splash.

'I heard a big revving of an engine and a bang where it had hit the side of a boat and the Porsche was suddenly sitting on the water,' he said.

'We were trying to explain to the driver to get out. I don't know whether he was in shock, or whether the door was stuck and he couldn't get out.'

Rescue: The car was later retrieved from the dyke and driven away from the scene of the accident

On a lorry: The car, worth up to £22,000 being driven away from the dyke in Norfolk

The rescuers used the boat that the car had crashed into as a platform to reach the driver.

'The car was going down slowly and we thought he was not going to get out - so Mark jumped in and it took a bit of an effort do get the door open,' Mr Hall added.

'When the door opened it went down quickly and we pulled him out just in time before his head went under.

'He was in shock and I guess his foot must have slipped on the accelerator.

'It was something like out of a James Bond film and it all happened pretty quickly.'

Blunder: The motorist was trying to reverse onto a boat but missed and drove into the water

Good Samaritans: Mark Platten, left, and Sam Hall, right, pulled the unlucky driver out of the water

The Porsche 911, which dates to 1992, would have had a resale value of up to £22,000 depending on mileage.

It boasts a 3.6l engine with 250bhp, goes from 0-60mph in 5.7 seconds and has a top speed of 161mph.

The driver later returned to the scene to thank his two rescuers after drying off and recovering from the shock.

The tied-up boat suffered a smashed window in the crash.

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Rofl at the brilliant incisive comments : ' his attention was drawn by a large splash ', and ' 'When the door opened it went down quickly '.

- Dogsblox , Manchester, United Kingdom, 20/4/2013 07:16

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Hahahaha serves him right!!! If you can't drive it properly don't buy it!!! Why did he need to be saved from 4fts worth of water??? Porsche driver for you I suppose.

- xxxJxxx , Chertsey, United Kingdom, 19/4/2013 05:30

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Claire Balding will be released from hospital later this evening. - Catastrophique, Prescription Windscreen, Equatorial Guinea, 18/4/2013 18:11>>>>> But her bike was sadly put down.

- John S , Bromley, United Kingdom, 19/4/2013 01:49

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With the insurance payout he can buy a nice reliable hatchback that is easy to reverse.

- Martin_in_Yorkshire , Yorkshire, United Kingdom, 18/4/2013 21:58

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Claire Balding will be released from hospital later this evening.

- Catastrophique , Prescription Windscreen, Equatorial Guinea, 18/4/2013 18:11

Click to rate Rating 11

As it lacks electronics it will soon be working.

- Samuel Pickwick , Anywhere BUT London, United Kingdom, 18/4/2013 17:57

Click to rate Rating 12

he was only trying to dip his headlights

- paddyleeds1 , leeds, 18/4/2013 17:57

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Bear in mind this happened in Norfolk,.....the driver would have webbed feet.....NO problem..!

- Rudolph Hucker. , london, Hungary, 18/4/2013 17:53

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A nice 964 model Porsche,...once its dried out it will be o.k ,these old ones are better built than the newuns. Why do people resent porsches ? you can buy a classic like this for around £20,000 and get your money back after a few years.....

- Rudolph Hucker. , london, Hungary, 18/4/2013 17:38

Click to rate Rating 10

These old 911s are built like tanks. I'm sure it'll be up and running soon...

- MoparMojo , Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 18/4/2013 17:29

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