How to Escape a Sinking Car

Do you know how to escape a sinking car? Clue: opening the doors won’t work.

It happens more often than you think. Just last week, a car in Poole slipped into the sea — the driver only survived by climbing out through the roof light. Back in August, a driver in Auckland, New Zealand, found themselves in the same terrifying situation. Footage filmed by bystanders showed the car slowly submerging as the driver scrambled free, while onlookers shouted warnings and raced to help. Thankfully, both incidents ended without tragedy — but they’re a stark reminder of how quickly an ordinary moment by the water can turn into a fight for survival.

Watching it unfold was unnerving. The car seemed to glide almost peacefully at first, until gravity and water took over. Within seconds, the vehicle was nose-up, tail-down, and gone beneath the surface. It was a powerful reminder that cars don’t sink the way most people imagine — they float briefly, then fill rapidly, and when that happens, there’s almost no time to react.

This dramatic event in New Zealand brings back memories of the Buncrana Pier tragedy in Ireland — one of the most haunting coastal incidents in recent memory. On 20 March 2016, an Audi Q7 carrying six family members slipped on algae-covered concrete at Buncrana Slipway, on the Donegal coast. The driver, Sean McGrotty, tried desperately to reverse up the incline, but the tyres spun helplessly on the thick green slime. Witnesses said the vehicle edged slowly backwards until it entered the sea.

As the water rose inside the car, McGrotty managed to wind down his window and pass his four-month-old baby daughter, Ríoghnach-Ann, to a passer-by, who had bravely swum out to help. Moments later, the vehicle was submerged. McGrotty, his two sons Mark (12) and Evan (8), his partner’s mother Ruth Daniels (59), and her daughter Jodie-Lee Daniels (14) all drowned before rescuers could reach them. The baby was the only survivor.

Tide School Tips

How to Stay Safe

That tragedy highlights a truth few people ever think about: cars and water are a deadly mix. Once a vehicle begins to slide or float, it quickly becomes uncontrollable, and when it starts to sink, there are only seconds — not minutes — to act. Most people assume they’ll have time to think or escape, but the reality is brutally fast. This is why you need to know what to do in case this ever happens to you:

Unbuckle

The moment your car hits the water, time becomes your most precious resource. Panic is natural, but action is vital. Your first step is to unbuckle your seatbelt — and help any passengers do the same. Seatbelts that keep you safe on the road become deadly restraints in the water.

Most cars will float for around 30–60 seconds before they begin to submerge, and that is your only real window of opportunity. Don’t waste time calling for help or trying to assess the situation — the priority is freedom of movement. If you have children, unbuckle yourself first, then move to release them in order of proximity and age, starting with the oldest who can assist the others.

Open the Windows (Not the Doors)

The instinct for most people is to try to open the door, but once water pressure builds against it — even at just a few inches of depth — it becomes almost impossible to move. Forcing it wastes time, strength, and air. Instead, your goal is to open or break a side window immediately. Modern electric windows will usually still work for several seconds after impact, so try that first.

If they don’t respond, use a window breaker tool kept within easy reach — not locked away in the glove box. Always aim for the side windows, never the windscreen or rear window; these are made from reinforced laminated glass that won’t shatter. Once the window is open, that is your escape route — climb through, push children out first, and never turn back for possessions.

Swim Clear: Children First

Once outside the vehicle, the danger isn’t over. The suction and turbulence caused by a sinking car can disorient you and pull you down. Push children out first, encouraging them to kick hard and swim toward the surface. Follow directly after, keeping your movements calm and efficient.

Aim to swim diagonally upward, following light or air bubbles to find the surface, and get as far from the vehicle as possible — a few metres can make the difference between being dragged down or staying clear. Once at the surface, stay together, float on your back if necessary, and focus on conserving energy until help arrives or you can reach solid ground.

If you want to boost your Sea Sense, book a private Tide School masterclass, tailored to your location and activity.