Robert Hill, who's 72, told ITV News Meridian's Richard Slee he feels lucky to be alive.

A man who was rescued from his sinking car, after it rolled off a quayside car park and plunged into the sea below, has thanked the people who jumped into the water to save him.

Robert Hill, who's 72, says he feels lucky to be alive, "I know that if I hadn't got out of that little hole in that sunroof, then I would have gone down with the ship."

The incident happened near the Sandbanks chain ferry in Dorset just after five o'clock on Tuesday evening (30 September) when the Bentley entered the water from the Ferry Way Car Park

Mr Hill says his car made a terrible roaring noise before plunging into the sea, "It literally did go in like a fish and it went down like a submarine, under the water, and it came back up and floated level."

He became concerned as the water came up to his chin and attempted to get out of his sunroof.

"As I put my head out, I saw three people swimming towards me and shouting, 'stay where you are mate, stay where you are, we're coming to get you'."

A number of local anglers and passers by helped the man to escape through the sunroof before the car submerged.

"I said, 'Oh thank you so much', and they climbed onto the bonnet of the car, all three, and then there was a real hustle of pulling me out as fast as they could."

Mr Hill was then taken to hospital to be checked over and says he is very grateful to his rescuers.

"They're absolute stars. It's something that you never think these days would happen, that people care, and people did care and I've got my life to thank them for."

A statement from Poole Harbour Commissioners said, "PHC staff were rapidly on scene and our hydrographic survey vessel fixed the vehicle's position on the seabed.

"Divers and a crane were mobilised for recovery and the vehicle was lifted safely ashore at 10.30pm.

"We would like to take this opportunity to commend the swift and selfless efforts of those individuals on the quayside who assisted the gentleman from his car before it sank.

"We would also like to thank PHC staff, partner agencies and our contractors who worked late into the night, recovering the vehicle to ensure safety of navigation and protection of the environment."