A MITSUBISHI 4x4 was swallowed by the sea last night, after two men took it down to New Brighton Beach to launch a jet ski and it got stuck in the sand.
Coastguards were called out at 9.10pm to rescue the stranded off-roader, but could only save the jet ski and the two occupants.
Twenty minutes later, only the roof was still visible as the water crept over the luxury vehicle near to the New Brighton Lifeboat House.
A Coastguard spokesman said: "You always have to be careful on the beach, whatever vehicle you drive, as you can always get stuck in soft sand. It's a common occurrence. “Even 4x4s get stuck, as many are not designed for off-road, or are not equipped for off- road, and usually drivers aren't trained to drive off- road.”
High tide was after midnight, early this morning, and the Mitsubishi had already disappeared before 9.30pm.
