Video: Man and four children escape injury after car falls into sea at Burntisland

A man and four children had a narrow escape after the car they were in plunged into around seven feet of water outside Burntisland's Beacon Leisure Centre yesterday afternoon.
The car sinks into the water. Picture by George McLuskie.The car sinks into the water. Picture by George McLuskie.
The car sinks into the water. Picture by George McLuskie.

At around 3.40 on Thursday RNLI lifeguards at Burntisland helped rescue five people when their car fell from the promenade into the water.

Kayleigh Reid (22) a senior lifeguard and her sister Vicki (19), who is also a lifeguard, were on patrol in Burntisland when they heard a car engine revving, followed by a splash. They realised that a car had fallen about two metres from the promenade and into the Forth.

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Vicki paddled over on a rescue board and was quickly on scene. Kayleigh arrived moments later having swum the 250 metres and radioed the Coastguard at the same time.

The car sinks into the water. Picture by George McLuskie.The car sinks into the water. Picture by George McLuskie.
The car sinks into the water. Picture by George McLuskie.

Queesnferry RNLI lifeboat was also sent to assist with the incident by the Coastguard, and they captured this video as they arrived on the scene

A 56-year-old man was having trouble freeing himself from the vehicle because of a leg brace he was wearing, while two members of the public were already helping him and he was further assisted to the shore on the lifeguard’s rescue board.

Three other female occupants of the vehicle aged 10, 13 and 14 had already made their way to shore and one other female, 14, had managed to get out of the vehicle before it fell from the promenade.

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Members of the public helped the man up the steps to a grassy area where he was reunited with the other occupants of the vehicle.

Queensferry lifeboat races to the scene. Picture: George McLuskie.Queensferry lifeboat races to the scene. Picture: George McLuskie.
Queensferry lifeboat races to the scene. Picture: George McLuskie.

Once all the casualties were safe, lifeguards assessed their condition and one of the casualties was given oxygen due to concerns about her rate of breathing.

The girl who had escaped the vehicle before it entered the water had scraped her leg, and her injury was treated by the lifeguards.

All of the casualties were cold and in shock. They were given warm, dry clothes and taken into the lifeguard unit where their condition began to improve.

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Police and an ambulance soon arrived on scene and the casualties were taken into the care of the paramedics.

The car sinks into the water. Picture by George McLuskie.The car sinks into the water. Picture by George McLuskie.
The car sinks into the water. Picture by George McLuskie.

Kayleigh Reid said: “It was a shock to see the car in the water like that but we were able to react quickly, provide assistance and call for back-up from the lifeboat and other agencies. Credit must also go to members of the public who did a great deal to help. We’re just really pleased everyone is safe and well.”

Tim Doran, RNLI lifeguard manager, added: “This is only the second year that we’ve had RNLI lifeguards on beaches in Fife. I’m really pleased with the way our lifeguards and members of the public reacted to ensure the safety of everyone involved in this incident.”

Queensferry RNLI lifeboat was launched by the Coastguard to assist with the incident and a Coastguard helicopter (Rescue 999) was also called but then stood down.

The RNLI is working in partnership with Scottish Borders and the Fife Coast Countryside Trust to provide lifeguard services.