The coastguard service has warned motorists to be careful driving on beaches after a €200,000 Drogheda Fire and Rescue Service tender became stuck on Laytown beach and was submerged by the rising tide.
The drama began at 7.20pm on Saturday evening after three people reported through the 999 emergency service that their car had become stuck in soft sand near the water's edge.
Drogheda Fire Service responded to the distress call and sent out its four-year-old Mercedes rescue tender, a top of the range vehicle.
It arrived in nine minutes, but unfortunately became stuck itself and was unable to tow the car to safety. With a rapidly-rising tide there was little fire officers could do but ensure the three people from the car were brought to safety. The crew then turned their attention to salvaging equipment from the fire tender.
A fire officer who remained with his cab as the water rose around him had to be rescued by the Coast Guard using a rigid inflatable boat.
After their night in the sea both car and rescue vehicle were eventually towed off the beach by two tractors early yesterday morning.
Drogheda fire brigade spent most of yesterday washing out the vehicle and will this morning contact experts to ascertain if the machine can be repaired.
The chief fire officer at Drogheda, Shane McBride, said a particularly difficulty was the amount of electronic equipment on board the vehicle. As a specialised rescue vehicle it carried no water, but was used in connection with road traffic accidents and rescue work where heavy towing or cutting was required.
"There was a lot of electronic systems and when you would switch it on in the morning it would run a check through all these, so we don't know how they will fare," said Mr McBride. He added that the fire service was hampered by the rapidly-rising tide, as well as the unusually long distance out to where the car had been parked.
Each year Meath County fire service, of which the Drogheda service is a part, responds to approximately 1,100 calls. The service is provided by 42 full-time and 56 retained fire fighters.
According to the service's website "relevant charges are levied in respect of the service provided", but Mr McBride said he did not think the owners of the car would be getting a bill for the new fire engine. "I don't know if their insurance would cover that," he remarked.