Floating Ford flotsam found by Cefas

Just how long can a Ford Focus float? That’s the question Cefas scientists asked when they encountered the unusual floating craft in the River Yare at Great Yarmouth on 18 May.

Having just returned from doing survey studies at the new Scroby Sands wind farm in the North Sea, Cefas scientists were stunned to see the Ford Focus Zetec floating in the water opposite the Gorleston lifeboat station about 1 pm. The car had just managed to roll over the edge of the quay and the distressed owner was seen running along and shouting for help.

Jon Rees, Cefas oceanographer, returning from the wind farm aboard the chartered launch MV Compass, managed to get up very close to the car to confirm that no one was trapped inside. The inshore lifeboat was launched and two ambulances and a fire crew also raced to the scene.

‘Talk about being in the right place at the right time!’ said Jon. ‘Fortunately the car was empty and unlocked, and we managed to push it towards the beach.’

Eventually, only the roof of the car was visible when it settled after floating a quarter of a mile towards the harbour mouth. A spokesman from the Great Yarmouth Port Authority said: ‘We had to attach a line to the car to secure it overnight and stop it drifting into the channel.’

Cefas scientists are fully trained in health and safety procedures to enable them to carry out their work at sea. Yet such extraordinary efforts fall well outside the usual remit of the scientific research and surveys they normally undertake. In fact, this is the second time in a matter of weeks that Cefas crew and scientists have been involved in rescue operations. For an even more dramatic story see Drama at sea: Cefas Endeavour rescues sick man