Comments on: A visual guide to how not to pull a car out of the water

A visual guide to how not to pull a car out of the water

mathowie — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 02:43:05 -0800

How not to pull a car out of the water: A visual guide. [via prolific]

By: Orange Goblin

Orange Goblin — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 02:46:41 -0800

I knew it was coming, but it still made me laugh.

By: rustcellar

rustcellar — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 02:47:26 -0800

My responses: -Heh. That's great. -Wait, was this 'shopped? Why would someone be taking pictures before it happened? -Naw, it's real. But what happened to the driver of the first truck? Poor guy never stood a chance.

By: daveirl

daveirl — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 02:51:20 -0800

Yep it's real! I heard about it on Boards.ie (Irish Discussion Site) yesterday. A witness who was standing on the pier even chimed in on the discussion.

By: dash_slot-

dash_slot- — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 02:59:17 -0800

Great quote off the Irish boards: "Sure twas only a Civic anyway, they should've left it there. The world'd be a better place if more of 'em were driven into the sea. " Tell it like it is, mate.

By: fricative

fricative — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 02:59:39 -0800

Now the green truck has to fall in! And then the next! And the next!

By: milnak

milnak — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 03:02:29 -0800

Thanks for this useful guide. I was just about to pull my car out of the river in just this fashion, and this certainly saved me quite a bit of frustration!

By: loquacious

loquacious — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 03:10:29 -0800

I was expecting the 2nd crane to attempt to grab both the car and the first crane and topple in as well. And, yeah, this is like one of those jokes you know the punchline right when you hear the first bit to but it's still funny anyway.

By: sbutler

sbutler — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 03:12:56 -0800

Naw, it's real. But what happened to the driver of the first truck? Poor guy never stood a chance. I was wondering a similar thing. Looking at the pictures, there doesn't appear to be anyone in the cab, but there might have been people standing on the deck. I guess they jumped off in time, 'cause there aren't any ambulances in the later pictures.

By: Ethereal Bligh

Ethereal Bligh — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 03:38:29 -0800

I'm thinking someone didn't account for all that water, besides just being not-too-bright in the first place.

By: sycophant

sycophant — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 03:44:11 -0800

I was wondering a similar thing. Looking at the pictures, there doesn't appear to be anyone in the cab. The cranes on those types of trucks are usually operated by remote control (a big ruggidised box with the controls on it, connected to truck by cable). This allows the operator to move to a position where he can accurate obseve the operation. And also out of the way.

By: sycophant

sycophant — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 03:45:58 -0800

I'm thinking someone didn't account for all that water, besides just being not-too-bright in the first place. The didn't seem to be using any stabilisation at all (note the huge stabilising legs on the second truck) they were pretty much doomed from the moment they tried to lift the car. Water or not.

By: deliquescent

deliquescent — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 03:59:16 -0800

I, too, was trying to figure out if it was fake (yes, I know it's been verified... there's just something too... perfect about it). It looked like there were some bystanders who would have been crushed who just kinda disappear. But I wasn't looking very hard, and certainly they could have had time to react.

By: roofus

roofus — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 04:23:48 -0800

There's a chap (maybe the Civic driver?) in a two tone light/dark blue fleece who appears in photos 1,2,3, and 5, but is mysteriously absent from photo 4. He must have been very quick on his feet to get right out of shot, away from the splash. In his place seems to be a small yapping Jack Russell.

By: stupidsexyFlanders

stupidsexyFlanders — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 04:52:02 -0800

link is dead

By: robocop is bleeding

robocop is bleeding — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 05:02:36 -0800

Heh. Could God make a Civic so heavy that not even His crane could lift it?

By: Ethereal Bligh

Ethereal Bligh — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 05:03:28 -0800

Yes.

By: gren

gren — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 05:24:05 -0800

reminds me of the towboat from some time ago...

By: grum@work

grum@work — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 05:43:26 -0800

I think the reason it tipped into the water was not just because of the weight. I think that the stabilizer on the left side was too close to the water's edge. I think either it slipped over the edge or the ground it was on broke away from the pressure. The sudden shift in centre of gravity would definitely cause it to tip over, and the momentum would probably be enough to carry it in. You can see from the second crane that they stabilized it aways from the edge.

By: troutfishing

troutfishing — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 05:52:53 -0800

Well yeah, and the second crane truck had an enormous honking stabilizer which looked as if it were made from a salvaged WTC i-beam. "....OMG cant believe theres pics of this online! I was there when this incident happened... infact I would have been right beside the camera-man... goes to show how observant I am! To clarify, it happened at Roundstone Pier, Conemmara, Galway. What happened was... Fella who owns the car is a right eejit. He was parked facing the pier, parked right up against the edge. He was rolling a joint in the car, etc, etc... Not realising he hadnt put on the handbrake. He got out to smoke his doobie away leaning against the car happy out then *splash* in goes the car... Tow truck comes along to try and take the car out, that goes *splash* It was quite a funny scene I must admit and the fella who owns the car felt the right eejit because theres only a population of about 100 people in the village... you can imagine the talk! " From the BB linked to above.

By: LeLiLo

LeLiLo — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 06:02:33 -0800

I knew it was coming, but it still made me laugh. Just the first photo made me laugh. We didn't spend all those years watching cartoons not to know what was coming next.

By: Johnny Assay

Johnny Assay — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 06:27:25 -0800

I think "right eejit" should become the MetaFilter mild insult of choice.

By: daveirl

daveirl — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 06:53:19 -0800

The local newspaper has a bit of a write up on the whole incident.

By: daveirl

daveirl — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 06:55:02 -0800

Sorry thought I'd linked directly to the relevant part. I'll just quote it instead. "End of Season: We have certainly have had our ups and downs in the village this year what with somebody falling off the village wall, thank god not killed, and then in the wee hours of Saturday morning, a car goes into the Harbour, with a young man at the wheel, the car landed upside down and if it was not for the vigilance Mary King who alerted Sean de Courcey, Sean fair play to him pulled this man out of the car, which was nearly totally submerged in the tide and pulled him to safety, what ever way you look at it, Sean saved his life, yet again another near fatal accident, and then I suppose on the slightly humorous side and to add insult to injury, a tow truck was called out to pull the car out, now get this, the truck fell in while trying to lift the car, no donít worry there was no one in it, it was remote controlled, but the machine was not heavier enough to lift the car out, therefore, a proper professional machine had to be called in, and the job was done, no loss of life, what was interesting the amount of people that came to have a look at this task you would think we had another social event going on . I am just wondering if their had been a Garda presence could this accident have been prevented, or is it going to take a fatal accident for the powers that be to sit up and arrange for Garda Presence particular in the months of July and August, its time to fight again for a Guard, but I feel the whole community is going to have to have a strong input re this important matter this time, if we are going to improve on the villages image. Itís not all doom and gloom we have had some great events and fun for tourists and us alike. All the events that did take place during the summer for our visitors and locals, feed back have been very positive."

By: emanation

emanation — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 06:57:16 -0800

Wow. I just got back from having my vehicle towed to the dealer. Only had to deal with rain puddles. Whew.

By: Shane

Shane — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 07:31:09 -0800

More fun at the Crane Accidents site (previously posted around here somewhere.) I think there might be a better accident site too, but I can't find it. Still, this is fun: Stupid forklift tricks... And counterweights would have helped these fellows too.

By: alumshubby

alumshubby — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 07:34:11 -0800

Hell, my little boy would've known that was gonna happen.

By: yerfatma

yerfatma — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 07:36:57 -0800

I got a 1 on the Physics AP, so I'll just ask: doesn't the length of the crane arm (relative to the size of the first truck) have some bearing? And it's distressing to me the Irish aren't better able to guesstimate the weight of something that's sloshed. "The world'd be a better place if more of 'em were driven into the sea." Cú Chulainn vs. The Car

By: DrJohnEvans

DrJohnEvans — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 07:40:00 -0800

That's awesome. I love the secondary sources too.

By: anomie

anomie — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 07:46:15 -0800

yerfatma - yes, the longer the crane arm is, the more force the wet civic can exert on the truck, causing it to roll. Think about how a lever works, it's pretty much the same thing.

By: Secret Life of Gravy

Secret Life of Gravy — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 08:00:15 -0800

My Gawd! ~Gasps in admiration of the breath control it would take to read out loud that entire first sentence from the "End of Season" excerpt~

By: caddis

caddis — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 08:11:12 -0800

Too funny!

By: mfbridges

mfbridges — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 08:54:00 -0800

Is there a guy walking on top of the car in the water in the first picture?

By: bhayes82

bhayes82 — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 09:16:42 -0800

Is there a guy walking on top of the car in the water in the first picture? Just your friendly neighborhood Jesus.

By: Ethereal Bligh

Ethereal Bligh — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 09:20:35 -0800

“your friendly neighborhood Jesus” ...now there's a good username for ya.

By: eddydamascene

eddydamascene — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 09:53:00 -0800

the longer the crane arm is, the more force the wet civic can exert on the truck, causing it to roll The force is the same (neglecting the additional mass of the crane arm), but the torque increases. /pedant

By: Voivod

Voivod — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 11:25:15 -0800

What a small world. I had dinner in this town on my visit to Ireland, and I took a digital picture of a funny road hazard sign showing a car driving off the end of a pier. We stopped at an excellent seafood restaurant there, and were drinking our pints when the whole crowded place became strangely silent. All the locals were huddled around a TV. They had just announced that Dermot Morgan (Father Ted) had died.

By: Lynsey

Lynsey — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 11:39:11 -0800

Damn you, proxy filter! What made the link have adult content? I'll never know, as long as I'm at work, anyway.

By: Raindog

Raindog — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 12:07:52 -0800

You know that Dilbert cartoon with the Dog watching the cat walking towards the boobytrapped washing machine door? The dog is saying "oh please, oh please, oh please". That is what I was saying out loud watching the second truck start winching.

By: jb

jb — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 12:25:27 -0800

I think that's a Farside cartoon. And "Cat fud" is painted on the door?

By: hoborg

hoborg — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 13:45:32 -0800

/me removes "Walsh's Recovery" from speed dial and adds "Michael Long" I wonder if the car was heavier because it was pimped out.

By: Raindog

Raindog — Fri, 19 Nov 2004 14:08:35 -0800

Farside / Dilbert how did I do that?????????? [hides head in shame]

By: dougunderscorenelso

dougunderscorenelso — Sat, 20 Nov 2004 11:11:08 -0800

horborg, I had the same thought. I bet Michael Long is pretty happy about these things getting out. I tried to contact them to make sure, but no such luck.

By: codeofconduct

codeofconduct — Sat, 20 Nov 2004 22:00:53 -0800

That's some funny shit. Those other links, too. daveirl, your local paper link was excellent.

By: daveirl

daveirl — Sun, 21 Nov 2004 07:26:12 -0800

Well if you really want to ring Michael Long or Walsh's Recovery the numbers are in The Golden Pages