That sinking feeling: reversal of fortune dampens driver's day
This is how not to launch your jet-ski.
A man gave his luxury car an impromptu bath yesterday when he reversed his jet-ski trailer down a boat ramp and the vehicle accidentally followed it into the drink.
All that could be seen of the $60,000 Chrysler 300C wagon were its rear doors poking out of the Patterson River after the mishap at the Launching Way boat ramp, at Carrum.
Country Fire Authority (CFA) firefighters arrived at the ramp about midday to find the sheepish owner standing on the back.
No-one was inside the three-year-old car, said to be the owner's "pride and joy", at the time of the accident.
CFA fire officer Michael James said the man, believed to be in his 40s, had already successfully launched his jet-ski when the car somehow rolled backwards.
"Unfortunately the car rolled down the slope on the boat ramp until the car was virtually underwater," he said.
"We had no trouble identifying who the driver of the car was when we arrived because he was wearing a wetsuit standing looking very sore and sorry for himself.
"The owner, while embarrassed at the situation, was very grateful that no person was trapped in the vehicle during its time in the water."
A less-than-impressed tow-truck driver called to the scene stripped down to his underwear and waded into the water to secure the vehicle, before hauling it out.
"The tow-truck driver was eyeing off the car when we were there and shaking his head, not being really pleased about the circumstances," Mr James said.
"The water temperature would have been very, very cold, I would imagine somewhere between 10 and 12 degrees."
The car was fully insured - and the afternoon of jet-skiing never went ahead.
The red-faced man was forced to call a friend to come and collect him and his stranded jet-ski.
