This was the sorry sight of a car which landed upside down on a cliff above a Welsh beach, after it "accidentally left the car park" and went over a cliff. The bizarre incident happened in the early hours of the morning on September 12, but due to HM Coastguard's social media silence during the national period of mourning, details weren't shared until today.
Sharing photos of the car stuck on the cliff, a spokesperson for HM Coastguard Mumbles said: "Mumbles Coastguard were paged at 3.21am [on September 12] to assist South Wales Police Swansea and Neath Port Talbot with a vehicle over the cliff at Bracelet Bay. A vehicle had accidentally left the car park and driven over the cliff landing upside down just above the beach. The single occupant was able to walk away from the accident with assistance exiting the vehicle. Ken Williams Recovery removed the vehicle the following morning." You can get the biggest Swansea news stories straight to your inbox with our newsletter.
Read more: The best photos from the Swansea Bay 10k
In a follow-up comment, coastguard volunteers ask local councillor Angela O'Connor if "anti-climb curb stones" could be fitted in the Bracelet Bay car park. "[There have been] over four occurrences of cars crossing the pavement and leaving the car park requiring intervention (two in two months). Supporting a proposal and increasing safety in the area," they said.
"The higher curb height would also protect the footpath from overhanging vehicles allowing better pushchair and disabled access on the narrow pavement. It would be worth considering more dropped curb locations to allow access and egress from the pavement for the above."
A spokesman for Swansea Council said: “Bracelet Bay car park is a safe car park and regularly provides parking for thousands of drivers throughout the year. We are unsure why this particular motorist has driven over both the kerb and the pavement but we would call on all motorists to pay attention to their surroundings and ensure they park responsibly when using our car parks in the city and near our beaches.”
South Wales Police confirmed officers were called to the scene after receiving reports a car had "gone over a cliff". A spokesperson said: "South Wales Police was called just before 3am on Monday, September 12, following reports that a car had gone over a cliff by Castellamare, Mumbles Road, Mumbles. The driver of the car, a 29-year-old man from Swansea, was taken to hospital as a precaution and was subsequently released."
Lee, a member of staff at Ken Williams Motors recovery service, added that Police asked the firm to attend the scene in daylight to recover the vehicle. "We got there at around 7.30am, it was a difficult recovery, we winched the vehicle back up the embankment to the carpark," he said.
READ NEXT
- Huge house for sale in one the UK's 'coolest postcodes'
- Soldier turned drug dealer ordered to surrender his Armani watch
- 'My cat has been shot multiple times in Mumbles and still has the pellets inside him'
- Inside the new restaurant on top of Mumbles' Gin & Juice with incredible views
- 43 brilliant photos of the Queen visiting Swansea over the years
