Rescue Turns into Disaster

Occurred on January 17, 2014 / Rainbow Beach, Queensland, Australia

Info from Licensor: "While driving onto Rainbow Beach we noticed a crowd of people and wondered what was happening. A French man ran up to our car waving his hands in the air shouting "My son, my son." We thought something really bad had happened so we told him to get in our car and we drove him towards the crowd of people. As we arrived we notice a car was bogged and being smashed against the rock by the waves. Another car had already stopped and fitted the tow rope to help recover the car. It all happened pretty quick but the father jumped in the passenger side instead of the driver's side. The guy in the tow car shouted "Ready" and gave a thumbs up out the window. The son shouted "Yes" and nobody realized the driver seat was empty. The father who is sitting in the passenger side realized the car wasn't being controlled and was heading straight for a big rock. He tried to open the door and jump out but his reaction was too slow and he was launched out of the door. He wasn't hurt, just a little shaken. Eventually, the car had to be picked up by the local tow company as it was a write-off. It was a hire car and the people were on holiday from France. They obviously didn't realize driving on the beach takes skill, knowledge and a respect for mother nature."