A Newport household became the scene of an unusual rescue after an electric car came off a nearby road and landed in the property’s swimming pool, leaving residents to help its 79-year-old driver escape.
The white BYD Dolphin had been travelling south on Prince Alfred Parade shortly before 8:30 p.m. on Monday, 12 October, when it struck a roadside guardrail. The vehicle went beyond the barrier, passing through vegetation and a timber fence before dropping about two metres into the backyard of a Mitala Street home.
An Unexpected Arrival In The Backyard
The people living at the property were alerted by the noise of the collision and the sound of something entering the water. Outside, they found the electric hatchback partially submerged in their swimming pool, with the driver still inside.
Access through the rear hatch allowed the residents to assist the man out of the vehicle. Its airbags had activated during the crash, and the driver sustained minor injuries. Police, ambulance officers and firefighters from Mona Vale attended the property. After receiving medical attention and speaking with police, the man was transported to Northern Beaches Hospital shortly after 9:00 p.m. in a stable condition.
Overnight Wait For A Crane
Although the driver was safely out of the water, the car remained in the pool overnight while arrangements were made to retrieve it. North Shore and City Towing assessed the situation and determined that lifting equipment would be needed. A crane could not be arranged until Tuesday morning, leaving the recovery operation to continue the following day.
Workers arrived at approximately 10:00 a.m. on 13 October to prepare the vehicle for removal. By around 11:30 a.m., the hatchback had been lifted clear of the pool, and it was taken away by tow truck around midday.
The incident also left the homeowner dealing with damage to a retaining wall beside the driveway, garden hedging, fencing and the swimming pool. An insurance claim was left to be arranged for the affected property.
Images and video of the crash attracted social media attention, with commenters making jokes about the Dolphin model ending up in water. Some also expressed relief that the driver had escaped with minor injuries.
The recovery was not the towing company’s first involving a swimming pool. In June 2026, North Shore and City Towing had attended another incident in Cromer where a vehicle had entered a residential pool. NSW Police confirmed that investigations into the cause of the Newport crash were continuing.
Published 14-October-2026
