Posted on March 14, 2017
By Anthony Joseph, mailonline
Workmen needed a weekend and two recovery vehicles to rescue a £100,000 digger after it submerged in the middle of a harbour.
The 22-tonne machine was being used to dredge excess silt from West Bay harbour in Dorset – made famous by the ITV series Broadchurch – at low tide when it got bogged down in the soft mud.
Finally, after two days of attempts, it was wrenched out using two recovery vehicles at low tide yesterday afternoon.
Its driver was unable to free it and neither could the second digger that was assisting in the operation on Saturday.
The 22-tonne machine was being used to dredge excess silt from West Bay harbour in Dorset at low tide when it got bogged down in the soft mud
Finally, after two days of attempts, it was wrenched out using two recovery vehicles at low tide yesterday afternoon
Its driver was unable to free it and neither could the second digger that was assisting in the operation on Saturday
Several workmen and the West Bay harbour master team spent the afternoon unsuccessfully trying to pull the excavating machine out to the bemusement of hordes of tourists.
They had to give up when the tide came in at about 5pm and watched helplessly as the digger became submerged in the water.
The top of the arm of the 25ft tall digger could be seen protruding from the water by members of the public who gathered to view the odd sight.
It is the second time in five years that a digger operated by Axminster Excavators has become stuck in identical circumstances in the harbour in West Bay.
Source: mailonline
