Two vehicles that were caught in the tide and submerged at Margate have now been retrieved from the water.
The caddy van and a 4×4 were swamped by the incoming tide yesterday afternoon (May 15) at the ‘rendezvous’ slipway at the rear of Turner Contemporary and by the Margate RNLI station.
The vehicles belong to Margate resident Steven Holland and a friend who had been jetskiing but hit trouble when they tried to pull the skis in. The car became stuck and then the clutch failed on the caddy van.
HM Coastguard Margate were tasked by UK Coastguard to attend this incident to provide safety cover and Kent Police and the RNLI were also notified.
However, a rescue was not possible. Steven and friends have since managed to recover the van and car.
Steven said: “We went out on the skis, then went to pull them back in and the Freelander got stuck. I tried to pull it free with the white van and then my van started to get stuck.
“Then my clutch went and we were unable to pull it free so just locked it up and watched from the ramp. We called the coastguard and they arrived when the water was just touching the back of my van.
“They said it is against the law for them to pull them out so we couldn’t do anything but have some fun, as was seen with us using them as diving boards. As soon as the tide went out we got some of our friends from out the area to pull the van and car out.
“I got towed home last night and I went back down there this morning with my other van to tow my mate’s Freelander.
“All the vehicles are back home and going to live a new life at the scrap yard! I was gutted as all my work tools were in the van.
“But I will move on to bigger and better things. You just have to learn from your mistakes.”
Should they not be jet skiing at the moment I saw them yesterday as there is no yellow safety bouts there they can right up to the shoreline there was families in the water could have been a serious accident.
Sadly some people do not have common sense
some people have no respect
serves them right
sick of people thinking that they can do what they like when they like and not even knowing tides serves them right again
hope that they cough up money to the RNLI
They were well inside the buoys around the main sands yesterday (for sometime) the signs are really clear about where they should launch and which channel is for motorised crafts, being local makes this worse – they had no excuse and know all the proper launch spots. I swim and paddle board here as do lots of other locals and the jet ski users do this regularly, they don’t care about anyone elses safety or enjoyment of the water. It’s about time the council enforced proper slipway and water area use.
Indeed I have seen jetskiers in hernia bay out close to where people go fishing and going in where they are not supposed to thinking it is brands hatch
I hope you pay the RNLI the fee for being called out stupid idiots
and a ban for 6 months might cure your stupidity
Completely agree violet Elizabeth. The yellow bouys are not there at the moment as you said they do not care. The bouys are usually there at the start of the summer season. As everything is on hold.
I agree with you Kent resident that particular area does have a gate apparently it’s left open for the life boat. It should be locked and the RNLI would have keys. There are gates along the lower promenade from the turner to Palm bay have gates but people always cut them off.
what where your vehicles doing on the sand dingbats
maybe we can enforce that no vehicles allowed on the beach as clearly they were and this is adults here not kids
stupid idiots
thinking what …you can do what you want on the beach at any time
fine them and 6 months ban
Rebecca hooper totally agree with your comments with this one that part of Margate harbour has very soft sand no cars should have been there in the first place that’s why the RNlI always use a tractor to pull the lifeboat.They use tank type wheels to get across the sand.
Since when have jet skiers been allowed to use this slope for launching.
Why take your vehicle on a beach, where it is not supposed to be?
Obviously immune to the rules.
There is one in every village, two in this case, but at least you made it back to yours.
I went pass this slipway this morning, the sign at banning jet ski launching at he top is quite clear. A fine is in order and a throwing them out of the water users group. I wonder if they are members?
WOW what an outstanding display of entitlement. Often associated to people who regularly bend the rules,ignore guidelines,laws etc for their own favour.
I am know you can not judge a book by its cover but I have just looked at Steven Holland from Margate on Facebook.
Hope your insurance company refuse to pay any claim following this stupid episode!!.⛔️⛔️
Jet-skiers have been breaking the safety rules at Ramsgate for years, and kite-surfers have recently also started using the main beach, endangering swimmers, paddlers and people just sitting or playing on the beach.
So you’re not allowed to kite surf on the main beach? That’s interesting, where did you get that information from exactly?
I don’t know if people are allowed to kite-surf on the main beach but last year they were doing so and making the sea and beach risky for other users.
However, if they are allowed , I think they should not be. It is an inconsiderate, as well as dangerous, thing to do on any popular beach. Jet-skiers and kite-surfers drive to the beach with their equipment. They could easily take it to a quiet country beach instead.
Many regular Ramsgate beach users live a short walk from the town beaches – and not everyone has a car. I hope the council will take note of the views expressed in these comments.
Kite-surfers are already coming to Ramsgate beaches. The council needs to stop this now. If this sport has not already been officially banned then please do so now. As these people cannot walk to the beach because of their equipment, they come by car. So they could easily drive to a quieter beacj where they will not be a danger to other beach and sea users.
https://www.facebook.com/steven.holland.370/videos/10213399730067273/
This is how concerned he is with it. More money than sense!
What a bunch of brainless morons !
Will they be prosecuted for polluting the sea with fuel and oil ?
The insurance claim form will make interesting reading : “Well I parked me car on da beach d’in’ I – an’ da tide cum in in’it”
The most worrying thing is that these idiots are proud of their antics rather than hanging their heads with shame and embarrassment.
There is a launching ramp at Ramsgate, at the Dumpton Gap end of the beach.
There are signs up, governing the use of powered craft, including:
Vehicles and trailers must be removed to the car park once a craft has been launched (nope. The cars get left there, to avoid paying parking fees)
Craft must turn left, and head towards Dumpton Gap. (nope. They all too often drive at high speed just a few metres off the beach, endangering swimmers. Sometimes they haul up on the Main Beach for a BBQ. Sometimes they tear off to the SSSI and narure reserve of Pegwell Bay.)
It’s high time that if we must have these ghastly things, then they should be properly managed.
I totally agree with what you say, but the trouble is, there is nobody to enforce the rules, the Police or Council don’t seem interested. Much the same as keeping dogs off certain beaches in the summer, when you look, there are always dogs roaming around.
Some years ago, MINNIS BAY locals may recall it & Kathy B. Editor, I was called for emergency help TO THE SLIPWAY AS A MALE DRIVER MISJUDGED HIS REVERSING A BOAT TRAILER DOWN THE SLIPWAY AND AS A RESULT THE BOAT TRAILER CAREERED OVER THE SIDE OF THE SLIPWAY STRAIGHT ONTO THE CROWDED BEACH WHILE PACKED SOLID WITH FAMILIES, WITH LITTLE OPTION , WHEN I GOT TO THE SCENE, AS SEA WAS ALREADY OVER SLIPWAY I HAD TO SLIDE DOWN THE SIDE OF THE SLIPWAY TO REACH CASUALTIES SOME UNCONSCIOUS WITH TIDE ALREADY CLOSE BY, NOT EASY IN A SKIRT THAT NEEDED HITCHING UP FIRST, IT MADE TV NEWS. DRIVER, MEDWAY. UNCONSCIOUS LADY HOSPITALISED of MONKTON & MALE & CROWDS SHOCKED. Assumed Police & TDC etc made changes to avert another like incident as a result. THE MARGATE VEHICLE OWNERS ARE MORONS THAT POLICE NEED TO CHARGE AS WE ALL END UP PAYING HIGHER INSURANCE PREMIUMS FOR THESE INCOMPETENT IDIOTS WHO DO NOT OBEY THE LAW.FINE&JAIL&TAG.
TDC need to put a gate on all the slipways where launching is banned as idiots like these will always break regulations. They have no respect for laws or lives put in danger by their selfish acts. It’s all about them ! I hope the policeman that was on scene brought them to book not just gave advice as they don’t listen.