UPDATE TUESDAY 6.45AM: AN 81-year-old driver of the car that went off the South Mole Monday evening in what appears to be a tragic accident was able to swim to safety. (Read fisherman’s rescue efforts below)
“However a 75-year-old woman remained trapped in the Mitsubishi Magna wagon and was unable to be rescued,” a police spokesman said in a statement Tuesday morning.
“Specialist divers from Water Police attended the scene and recovered the deceased woman’s body.
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READ NOW“The man was taken to Fiona Stanley Hospital, where it was expected he would remain overnight.”
Police responded last night after receiving information a vehicle had been driven into the water and the occupants were still inside.
Byford resident Rhys Wells said he was fishing when he heard the car.
“I saw it hit the rocks and go up over the rocks and then the car stopped,” he said.
“He panicked again and accelerated it again which threw it over and it went into the water.
“I ran to the rocks, I was the first person down there.”
Another person joined him and Mr Wells said they used an extension cord to try and save the pair.
“I used it to pull the man to safety but by that time it was too late for his wife,” he said.
“She looked at us as if saying ‘help’ but the car was gone.”
Mr Wells said the car took about 30 seconds to disappear and that ambulances were quick to arrive.
“The man didn’t say anything, we took his T-shirt off and gave him a blanket until the ambulance got there,” he said.
BREAKING – MONDAY 11PM: Police divers have recovered a female body from a car which plummeted into the sea off Fremantle’s South Mole Monday evening.
“A car has gone off the South Mole about 7pm and submerged and one person is deceased,” a police spokesman said.
“(The body) has been recovered.”
He said police were still at the scene and that inquiries were continuing.
People took to Facebook to express their concern.
“I heard a car has gone off the rocks and into the water. Passenger didn’t get out. RIP,” one woman said.
“I have a friend who witnessed it, it was an older couple apparently,” another post read. “The gentleman has reversed his car off the rocks. He got out but his wife went under with the car.”