IT proved an expensive dash to the toilet for a driver waiting to use the Sandbanks Ferry yesterday morning.
Tony Hearn, who left his silver Smart car on the ferry slipway to spend a penny, ended up costing insurers thousands after it rolled into the sea.
Shocked witnesses saw the £7,000 mini-motor bobbing out of Poole Harbour, around 8am, heading towards the Isle of Wight.
But its inaugural voyage was a short-lived one – floating a meagre 30 metres past the Haven Hotel before sinking to the bottom of the sea.
Tony, 34, who works with autistic children in Hamp-shire, was left on the harbourside in disbelief, watching it disappear under the waves.
He explained: “I’d decided to take advantage of the spring sunshine and head to Studland for a walk along the beach.
“I was first in the queue for the chainlink ferry.
“I realised I had enough time to run over to the loo and was just washing my hands when somebody ran in saying ‘Have you got a silver car? It’s just run into the sea.’ “My first thought was they’re taking the Mickey, but then I saw how serious they looked.
“I ran out to the top of the ramp to see the car bobbing along in the ocean.
“My first thought was to leap in after it but then sanity kicked in.”
Tony, from Reading, who has owned the 2007 Smart Car for six months, is sure he put the handbrake on and was sitting in the car for three or four minutes before popping to a nearby toilet.
He quickly phoned the coastguard, telling them no one was trapped in the submerged vehicle, then waited for the emergency services.
Tony said: “The police were just so nice to me. They helped me out, took me back to Poole police station and gave me a phone so I could organise a lift.”
What he really wanted was one of these....
Commenter ajhpayne, from Lilliput posted this comment: "I remember back in the 1960's someone had a real amphibian and used to take it in and out the harbour. It was a sky blue convertible. Anyone else remember this?"
We had a look in our archives and came up with this photo from 1965.
It was taken by Harry Ashley at the opening of Poole Yachting Week, who said it was "making good time up the harbour towards Poole."
You can see more pictures from the past in our Snapshots section every Tuesday.
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