A Mini came close to being swept out to sea after it was left parked on a beach as the tide surged in on a busy Bank Holiday Monday. The car was spotted on Polzeath Beach in Cornwall, positioned well beyond the marked car park and below the high tide line. As spring tides rolled in, waves began lapping against the vehicle’s tyres, raising concerns it could be dragged into the water.
Footage captured by the Polzeath Beach Ranger Service showed the incoming tide surrounding the isolated car. In a statement shared alongside the video, the rangers said: “If you drive over seaweed to get to your parking space, consider how the seaweed might have been delivered.”
The clip, shared on Facebook, quickly prompted alarm and frustration among viewers, many of whom pointed out the dangers of parking too close to the shoreline during spring tide conditions.
One local commented: “It’s not the first time this has happened and it won’t be the last. People need to understand the sea comes in fast here.”
The incident unfolded on May 26, as families flocked to the coast to take advantage of warm weather and the long weekend, reported Cornwall Live.
Spring tides – which occur when the sun and moon align to produce the highest and lowest tides of the month – are well known for catching out the unwary, particularly on flatter beaches like Polzeath.
Beach rangers and local authorities have repeatedly warned visitors not to treat open sand as a free-for-all parking zone. During peak tourist periods, temporary signage is often installed to mark safe parking boundaries, but these are not always followed.
A spokesperson for the ranger service said they were monitoring the vehicle closely and had alerted the relevant authorities. “We do try and advise people throughout the day, but ultimately if someone chooses to ignore basic safety or local advice, they are taking a significant risk,” they said.
Fortunately, on this occasion, the car was not washed away and appeared to have been moved before any serious damage was caused.
But the incident has once again sparked calls for improved public awareness and stricter enforcement to stop beachgoers from endangering themselves — and others — by parking recklessly.