Man drowned driving off pier

A man drowned in Souda harbour in Hania on Tuesday morning after he suddenly turned his car and drove off the end of the pier.

According to eye-witnesses, the man had been driving around the pier for freight goods when he suddenly pointed his car in the direction of the sea and gunned toward the water, falling off the edge.

People rushed to the scene and shouted at him to get out as the car was sinking but he did not react. A harbour crane was brought over and a diver used to secure the car while this was at a depth of nine metres.

An hour later the car was pulled up, along with its driver who was dead.

His body was taken to Hania hospital for an autopsy and an investigation into the incident is being carried out by the coast guard.