Car plunges into river with person inside at Dartmouth

A massive emergency operation was launched in Dartmouth today after a car plunged into the harbour water.

One person was believed to be in the car as it went in at the south Embankment.

Police, fire service, ambulance crews, coastguards and divers were alerted after police were called at around 8.40am.

There were reports that a car had plunged into the water opposite the Dartmouth Lifeboat Centre.

The town's annual Remembrance parade and service was being held a short distance away in the Royal Avenue Gardens as a coastguard rescue helicopter hovered above.

Eye-witness Janet Kidson, who lives in Dartmouth and was in town to watch her Dartmouth Beaver cub grandson take part in the parade, said: "There were three ambulance crews here to start with, police, the fire service and divers from their water response unit. The car went in off the harbour wall on the south Embankment by Rockfish."

It is believed the alarm was raised by the crew of the Dartmouth Lower Ferry.

Police said one person, who was the sole occupant in the car, was believed to be seriously injured.

The embankment area was closed and cordons were expected to be in place for much of the day.

The public is being asked to avoid the area at this time.

Janet said: "A crane has been called in. The car is still there. I think it's now a case of the investigation to begin."