The coastguard said: “We are not equipped to tow vehicles.”
This week’s victim was a new Mercedes hire coupe. It was left stranded in soft sand at low tide, and gently bobbing up and down when the tide was in(Image: Jane Grant)
“Silly season” has arrived early at a drive-on beach in Gwynedd, North Wales, as multiple vehicles have been engulfed by the incoming tides – despite repeated warnings.
A new 25 plate Mercedes-Benz coupe hire car recently spent two days partly submerged in the water while its owners waited for a suitable low tide to see if anything could be salvaged.
Two weeks ago, an Audi was swamped at the other end of the beach, situated near Porthmadog. It too was left marooned on soft sand before it could be recovered, prompting online quips like: “That car has been stuck Audi long.”
Reaction to seeing engulfed-car photos on social media ranges from sadness for victims to mirth at their misfortune. Often it’s just resignation, given how often it happens. “I’ve lost count of how many cars have done this on Blackrock,” sighed one local.
For many, there was little sympathy for the Mercedes driver. One man said: “What an absolute plonker.” Agreeing, a woman said: “It’s the cars I feel sorry for.” Another added: “Oops. Try and explain that to the insurance company because it won’t cover stupidity.”
Some people struggle to understand how drivers don’t realise the sea is advancing until it’s too late, North Wales Live reports. One woman said: “Omg I’d be devastated. Easy to make a mistake, I feel sorry for them.”
By some counts, yesterday’s stranding was the fifth in April alone. Criccieth Coastguard Rescue Team has been called to two of them, including this week’s Mercedes coupe, which was stranded on – and off – the beach from Monday evening to Wednesday evening, April 28 to 30.
Referring to this incident, a spokesperson said: “For the second time this year already, the team were tasked to a vehicle that had been caught out by the tide last night at 19:50 (Tuesday). By the time they got to it, it was completely submerged!
“As nice as it is to be able to drive on to a beach – please be fully aware of the tidal conditions!!! We are not equipped to tow vehicles.”
(Image: Jane Grant)
Traeth y Greigddu is one of a handful of North Wales beaches where vehicles are allowed. Despite access prices of £8 for cars and £16 for motorhomes, the beach’s popularity continues to grow – and so do the number of mishaps.
Some three miles long, its shallow shelf makes it ideal for swimming and a nightmare for off-guard drivers: the topology means the tide goes a long way out – tempting motorists to park too far out – before it races back in.
Over the years, over-ambitious drivers of cars, vans, 4x4s and motorhomes have all been caught out. Some were immersed, others trapped in soft sand. A few were lucky not to be washed out to sea – this week’s victim was seen bobbing up and down on the waves.
On seeing an Audi sinking into waterlogged sand two weeks ago, one person inquired: “Is that one of the pre-book parking spots for walking up Yr Wyddfa?”
Cyngor Gwynedd notes that soft sand accumulations on the beach can also pose problems for unwary drivers. The council has erected multiple warning signs on the beach and issues alerts on its social media channels.
After a frantic – and costly – start to the year for Morfa Bychan’s visitors, locals are bracing for summer mayhem. One person said: “Definitely silly season here already, omg.” Another said: “I saw someone driving into the water to wash his feet!”