Driver inches from disaster after 'handbrake fail' during boat launch
A man trying to tow his boat up a ramp has nearly been run over after appearing to leave the handbrake off his car.
Video of what nearly turned into a disaster was shared on Facebook by Josh Bishop. It was filmed at Moody Point in Vancouver, Canada on Wednesday evening.
The man is seen sitting in his boat which is attached to his car. The boat is near the edge of the water.
But he soon appears to realise he has left the handbrake off his car. He leaps from the boat as it and the SUV begin rolling backwards into the water.
“Oh my goodness,” Mr Bishop says.
The man falls to the ground and the car narrowly misses running over his left arm.
Another later video shows the car completely submerged.
Port Moody Police said the man got out of his SUV because the boat’s engine propeller was hitting the ground as it had not been raised properly.
The man did not want the boat’s propeller getting damaged.
Mr Bishop told the Vancouver Sun the man was “flipping out” as his car and boat became submerged.
“He had his hands on his head and he really didn’t know what to do,” he told the Sun.
“Later I saw him limping away with the cops.”
Deputy Chief Kirk Heaven, from Port Moody Fire Rescue, told CTV News crews eventually towed the SUV from the water.
But as crews were towing the SUV away it burst into flames.
"It's caused (by) the battery shorting out with salt water," the firefighter told CTV News.
Rocky Point boat launch is currently closed due to a vehicle incident. PMFR & PMPD on scene assessing any impacts. #baddayallround pic.twitter.com/pdHcxRRQVt
— PortMoodyFireRescue (@PortMoodyFR) May 16, 2019
On Facebook, people were shocked by the video.
“Wow. That's not even funny,” one man wrote.
“So lucky he didn't get run over!”
A man in his 40s jumped from his boat after his boat & SUV rolled back into the water at Rocky Point Park last night. When the electric Mitsubishi SUV was pulled from the water, it caught fire. @PortMoodyFR fought the fire with caution. Details on @CTVMorningLive & @CTVVancouver pic.twitter.com/2vfw9ONdlr
— Jordan Jiang (@J___Squared) May 16, 2019
Another man described the incident as “freaking crazy”.
Luckily, police said the man aged in his 40s escaped with only minor injuries.
Alcohol’s not believed to be a factor in the accident.
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