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Date Published: 06/05/2022

ARCHIVED - 80-year-old motorist almost drowns after plunging into a rambla in Alicante province

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The octogenarian was trapped inside his car as it sunk underwater in the Vega Baja town of San Fulgencio, Alicante province

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - 80-year-old motorist almost drowns after plunging into a rambla in Alicante province

An 80-year-old man was involved in a dramatic and life-saving police rescue after plunging into a drainage ditch in San Fulgencio and becoming trapped inside his car as it sunk deeper into the water.

The terrifying incident happened at around 3pm on April 26, and a passerby immediately raised the alarm fearing the elderly motorist was going to drown.

Local Police were quickly on the scene where they found the vehicle "practically submerged in the water" and the driver gasping for air through a partially-opened window.

In a statement, the Town Hall said: "The rescue had to be swift as the vehicle was gradually sinking and the victim was showing signs of exhaustion and hypothermia, which suggested a bad outcome":

With no time to lose, officers jumped into the water, and whilst one held the man's head upright through the small gap in the window, a colleague smashed open another window. Eventually, they were able to free the 80-year-old and place him on the roof of the car, and with the help of bystanders, get him to the edge of the ditch.

Although he showed signs of hypothermia, the driver didn't require hospital treatment.

Also read: Alicante thief goes on 10,000 euro shopping spree with stolen credit card

Image: Ayuntamiento de San Fulgencio

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