A Sunday afternoon boat ramp outing turned into a costly and dramatic incident at Shell Cove, when a man's four-wheel-drive slid into the water and became partially submerged.
Vehicle Slips Beneath the Surface
The accident occurred at the boat ramp off Maritime Drive around 2pm on Sunday, January 18, 2026. According to NSW Police, the driver, a man aged in his 60s, was attempting to manoeuvre his vehicle on the ramp when he lost control.
The 4WD subsequently entered the water and became stuck under a pontoon. Police from the Lake Illawarra Police District attended the scene alongside Fire and Rescue NSW crews and NSW Ambulance paramedics.
Driver Escapes Unharmed
In a fortunate turn of events, the driver managed to scramble out of the rapidly sinking vehicle. Paramedics assessed him at the scene and confirmed he was uninjured despite the frightening experience.
Bystander Wayne Merrett, who captured images of the partially submerged vehicle, provided context on social media. He suggested the driver was "trying to put a kayak in the water from the back of the SUV" when the vehicle slid in, labelling it an "expensive day out."
Environmental Response and Cleanup
The incident resulted in a small oil spill into the water. Fire and Rescue NSW Shellharbour crews were called upon to deploy containment booms to prevent the pollutant from spreading further through the marina.
Following the environmental mitigation efforts, firefighters worked to remove the sunken car from the water, concluding the emergency response to an unusual and messy situation at the popular boating location.
