ice cream van swept out to sea with waves crashing over it in Cornwall

A Cornish beach witnessed a dramatic rescue mission on Sunday afternoon after an ice cream van was swept out to sea.

A Kelly Whip ice cream van was dragged into the water at Harlyn Bay Beach, north of Newquay in Cornwall.

people start to gather to try and rescue ice cream van swept out to sea in Cornwall

All van images courtesy of Vintage Mary Stroud, via Facebook.

Vintage Mary, who took the images used in this article, says: “It was quite surreal. The sea came in and quietly engulfed the ice-cream van with the whole beach and surfers looking on.”

A number of by-standers rushed into the sea to attempt to rescue the vehicle after the van’s wheels became stuck in the sand.

people surround ice cream van swept out to sea in Cornwall

People were waist-high in the water, trying to keep it from being taken.

human chain to pull out ice cream van swept out to sea in Cornwall

It’s reported that a nearby 4×4 vehicle was called to attempt to tow the van.

people try to drag in ice cream van swept out to sea in Cornwall

The rescue attempt was unsuccessful. The rescue was eventually abandoned before the van was swept out to sea.

But, says Vintage Mary: “The van got stuck just after 4pm and was towed out by a tractor as the tide went out at just before 10pm.”

ice cream van swept out to sea in Cornwall bobs around

A local who witnessed the event told MailOnline: “At just after 4pm on Sunday 7th July the Kelly’s ice-cream van got stuck in the sand at the western end of the beach as the tide began to turn. A 4×4 that had a winch that was close by tried really hard to pull it free with the help of lots of surfers and other people that were on the beach.

ice cream van swept out to sea in Cornwall on rocks

“They managed to pull it a fair way up the beach while still surrounded by the in coming waves, before it got stuck on rocks. The tide was coming in very quickly and they were forced to abandon the ice-cream van. Shortly afterwards the coast guards arrived. They will keep watch over ice-cream van until the tide goes out and a local salvage team that are on standby can remove the ice-cream van from the beach.”

surfer swims past ice cream van swept out to sea in Cornwall

Footage from Richard Higman via Facebook shows the van being buffeted by waves with its contents swirling around inside the serving hatch.

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