Never miss a big story in Plymouth again with our daily newsletters Sign me up! Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A driver who ended up trapped inside his submerged Land Rover in Brixham Harbour was 'lucky to get out alive', the coastguard has revealed.

The unidentified man was attempting to launch his boat on Saturday, but was reportedly unfamiliar with the Land Rover and, in a terrifying moment of human error, the car went over the slipway and into the sea.

A Berry Head Coastguard spokesperson told DevonLive: "In line with our colleagues in the other emergency services we never judge the people we help to rescue. Saving lives is our priority.

"This is no laughing matter. I overheard the driver talking about his experiences this morning. He was lucky to get out alive."

(Image: Berry Head Coastguard)

Police, fire crews and the coastguard were all involved in the rescue and the Brixham Breakwater slipway was closed as a result of the incident.

The Coastguard spokesperson continued: "On our local knowledge patrol on Sunday morning, we attended Brixham Breakwater where the salvage of the car from yesterday's incident was underway. The Millennium Marine attached lifting bags to the vehicle and raised it to the surface.

(Image: Berry Head Coastguard)

"It was then decided to tow the vehicle to the inner harbour where it was lifted out of the water by crane. The owners were then reunited with their very soggy belongings."

A police spokesman had said: "We were made aware of the incident at 1.34pm on Saturday by the fire crews. It appears that a vehicle with a trailer was on the slipway on the Breakwater but has somehow ended up in the water.

“Coastguard crews were alerted and one man was rescued from inside the vehicle."

Brixham Lifeboat crews confirmed that neither of their vehicles were launched and that fire crews were recovering the vessel.

They added that they had offered use of the shower facilities in the lifeboat house to the driver of the vehicle.