Moment lifeboat crew race to van found submerged underwater but find it empty as driver left red-faced after it floated out to sea

This is the moment a lifeboat crew raced out to sea after a van was seen submerged underwater after a red-faced driver had left it parked on the beach.

The motorist is believed to have driven his black commercial van down onto the sands near Bridlington Beach, East Yorkshire, on Monday – but as the tide came in the vehicle floated out to sea. 

RNLI teams had to scramble a quick response craft at 6am the following day after the van was seen drifting around 50ft (15m) from the shoreline.

Body-worn footage showed the driver’s compartment and loading bay flooded with water – with parking tickets comically positioned on the passenger side window.

A Coastguard spokesperson said the owner was located nearby ‘safe and well’ and after rescue teams made sure no one else was inside, it had been recovered.

They said: ‘Upon arrival at scene, the van was located and immediately checked out by the Bridlington ILB for occupants.

‘Thankfully the owner of the vehicle was located nearby safe and well. A plan will be made by owner for a recovery later today.

‘A reminder to public that the beaches are not the place to take vehicles. Remember if you see a coastal emergency dial 999 and ask for the coastguard.’

Volunteer Helm Ash Traves from the RNLI, who assisted with the operation, added: ‘We managed to get the ILB launched this morning and made good speed on a calm sea reaching the van in 10 minutes.

‘We made a thorough and safe search of the van and ensured that no persons were trapped inside.’

Social media users who spotted pictures of the stricken van poked fun at the owner for getting into the soggy situation.

One wrote: ‘You can’t park there Sir….’

Another added: ‘Someone thought that it was a cheap parking space!!’