A hapless driver’s car ended up underwater after they parked it on a river slipway.
The white MG MG3 was left on the slop on the banks of the River Thames.
But the water then started to rise around the £18,000, three-year-old hatchback.
They didn’t realise that part of the Thames is tidal, in Richmond, west London.
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It started flooding on the slipway just off the aptly named Water Lane at about 3:15pm on Wednesday (24 Apr).
Onlookers sitting on a bench were left bemused by the empty car with the owner nowhere to be seen.
Bizarrely the front windscreen wipers started going off – thought to be triggered by sensors usually set off by rain or the electrics shorting out.
The water then almost covered the 21-plate MG and firefighters had to come and pull it out.
One witness told Need To Know: “It started flooding around 3:15pm and peaked at 4:15pm.
It was outside the Slug and Lettuce bar.
“No one was inside, the owners were nowhere to be seen before or after.
“The alarm then went off, the lights came on and the wipers started going.”
Local Nic Harrison joked: “Can’t park there, surely?”
Another added: “Can’t float there.”
Harminder quipped: “The wipers are working.”
Mark Creasey joked: “Still get a ticket.”
Cops were not called to the marooned car.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “Firefighters from Richmond Fire Station responded to reports of a car partly submerged on a slipway near Water Lane in Richmond.
“The Brigade was mobilised to the scene at 8.42pm and the incident was over for firefighters at 9.06pm.
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