– At first, all three of us started screaming. Then came the panic, says one of the passengers. The women, who are all in their early twenties, do not want to be identified by name or photo. Dramatic The three had been out to buy smokes on Tuesday evening. When they parked the car, the brakes suddenly stopped working, they say. As a result, the car rolled off the edge of the quay and further down into the city’s harbor basin. The car plunged into the water at Brevik’s harbor basin. Photo: Tipser Inside sat the three terrified friends. The feeling of not being able to get out, and at the same time seeing that everything was black outside the front window, was unreal, says one woman. – It is the worst thing I have ever experienced. My first reaction was actually to grab my bag. It probably sounds strange, as if it was important in that situation. She was the first to get out through a window. For a few long seconds she waded around in the water desperately searching for her friends. The following day, the car clearly shows signs of having been under water. Photo: Nils Fridtjof Skumsvoll / news The joy was enormous when they finally came into sight, just before the car was about to tip over on its side and sink to the bottom. – Absolutely indescribable, she says. Heard a thump At the same time, Frank Søtvedt was sitting below deck on his sailboat. He first heard a thump. The boat owner then noticed a large wave, and realized that something serious must have happened on the outside of the boat. Frank Søtvedt heard a huge splash, and acted quickly. Photo: Nils Fridtjof Skumsvoll / news He immediately jumped onto the deck. – There the car was under water, right by the ship’s side. Søtvedt realized that it was a matter of life or death, and prepared to jump. Then luckily the girls came up to the surface, one by one. – It was a great relief, says the boat owner. It was at this quay that the car drove off the edge on Tuesday evening. Photo: Nils Fritjof Skumsvoll / news He had the three girls dragged to a ladder, safely on board the boat. – We are incredibly grateful. If it hadn’t been for him, it is not certain that all three would be here today. We were too shocked and scared to swim. He literally lifted us out of the water, says one of the three. They were later taken care of by an ambulance at the scene. All emerged physically unharmed from the incident. Søtvedt does not want a hero title. – It’s good that it went the way it did, he says. There is no suspicion of drug-impaired driving. The case is under investigation by the police. Happy ending On Wednesday, two of the women are visiting Grenland Bilberging in Porsgrunn to go through the wreck, which was literally fished up from the bottom of the sea on Tuesday evening. The car has gained a lot of speed, and is unlikely to be seen on the road again. The mobile phones still work, despite being driven under the surface of the sea. Photo: Nils Fridtjof Skumsvoll / news The front window is broken. The bumper barely hangs on in the older Renault. Seats and interior are soaked in mud. – My mobile! It works, one of them happily exclaims, as she finds her phone lying on the passenger seat. A small lobster crawls over the hood of the car in fright. Photo: Nils Fridtjof Skumsvoll / news They have spent the night talking about what happened. – I’m just happy that we’re still alive, says one of the women, and embraces her friend in front of the wreck that only a few hours ago was at the bottom of the sea.
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– Glad we are still alive – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
