Thu Aug 16, 2007 8:42 pm
An unlucky Arklow man had an unfortunate end to a day trip to Courtown on Sunday last, when his Toyota Landcruiser was totally submerged in Courtown Harbour.
He had been launching a jetski off the slipway, when the vehicle's wheels lost grip on the algae at the bottom of the slipway, and the vehicle slid backwards into the water. The handbrake had been applied, and the vehicle had been left in gear, but the sway of the trailer led to the wheels being dislodged.
Luckily no-one was in the jeep, but the trailer which was attached to the vehicle had jack-knifed, leaving the recovery operation all the more difficult.
Members of Courtown Lifeboat attempted to pull the vehicle and its trailer out of the water using the winch that is used to launch the Lifeboat, but the task proved too much for the winch.
Rob and Joe Ireton brought their tractor to the scene, and they managed to haul the Landcruiser and its trailer out of the water and up onto the north pier, where the owner was left scratching his head as to what to do with his sodden vehicle.
Users of the slipway are advised to use extension drawbars when launching watercraft, and are asked never to leave children in the vehicle, in case of such a mishap occurring.
Several fishing rods and other items were stolen from fishing boats in Courtown at the weekend.