That’ll flood the engine! Mother drives her automotive into swimming pool with daughter, 5, nonetheless inside after hitting accelerator as an alternative of the brake
A mother accidentally drove her car into a swimming pool with her daughter strapped into the backseat after she hit the accelerator instead of the brake.
The incident took place at the Jean Boiteux pool in the southern French town of La Ciotat just after 8:30pm on December 11.
Surreal pictures from the scene show the 38-year-old mother’s Jaguar XF – which new costs around £35,000 – completely submerged under the water.
French media reported that the mother confused the break and accelerator pedals.
As a result, the car slammed through a fence before hitting the glass window and plunging into the pool while swimmers were in the water.
The mother and her five-year-old daughter were both still in the car when it started sinking.
Two lifeguards and a witness jumped into the pool and were able to rescue the mother and daughter.
Miraculously no one, including the swimmers in the pool, was injured in the incident.
The Jaguar XF completely submerged underwater at the Jean Boiteux pool in La Ciotat
Police officers examine the scene after two lifeguards and a witness pulled the mother and child from the car
The local town hall confirmed: ‘The occupants were able to be extracted from the vehicle, and there were no injuries.’
Firefighters, as well as national and municipal police, were all in attendance at the scene.
An operation is now underway to remove the car from the pool.
Although there is no obvious damage to the pool itself, it will remain closed for several weeks as the 900 cubic meters of water, polluted by the vehicle, will be drained.
Reacting to the images, one local commented on the Ville de La Ciotat page: ‘At first I thought it was AI.’
A second wrote: ‘A true miracle! Luckily there were still lifeguards around at this time!’
The AA has issued advice on what to do if your car enters a body of water.
Their first tip is to release your seatbelt and open the windows rather than the doors as these are the best exit points while underwater.
French media reported that the mother confused her break and accelerator causing the car to slam through a fence, hit a glass window and plunge into the pool
Electric windows may work even when a car is submerged but if not, you will need to break them.
You can break a window using the metal prongs at the base of your headrest or by using the buckle of the seatbelt.
As a last resort, you can use your arms or legs to break the car windows but this may result in bodily harm.
‘If there are children in the car, free them and get them out first,’ the AA website suggests.
It will take approximately two to three minutes for a car to fill up so it is advised that you stay calm, breathe deeply and prepare yourself to swim.
Once out of the vehicle, swim to the surface but be aware of any debris floating on the surface.
