A Good Samaritan dove into the water and pulled a woman to safety after her car plunged overboard at Flatts Inlet.

Shawn Woolridge was outside barbecuing with friends when a dark green Suzuki Ignis came flying through a wall, hitting two boats before dropping into the water below.

Mr. Woolridge immediately jumped overboard and forced open the woman's passenger window before pulling her to safety.

It was only later he discovered the woman couldn't swim.

"I saw the car come through the fence then land on that boat Prime Time, flip upside down and hit that other boat Bones," said Mr. Woolridge as he pointed the vessels out in the ocean. "And then it landed in the water.

"She couldn't swim so I jumped over to help her. The window was cracked open a little bit and I forced it open and pulled her out."

The woman refused to speak with The Royal Gazette, however Mr. Woolridge said she was OK, although a bit upset by the stressful experience.

Shane Robinson, owner of nearby jeweller Link-to-Link, said the woman, who is in her 30s, is his store assistant.

He confirmed she was in good health, but a little shaken up.

"She was parking and instead of hitting the brake she hit the gas," he explained. "Her shoe must have gotten stuck on the pedal and she lost control."

Mr. Robinson confirmed Mr. Woolridge's recollection of the day's events, that the car hit a wall and then the two boats before landing in the water.

Said Bones' owner Neil Burnie: "If it wasn't for the mooring chains that holds my catamaran in place, the car would be completely submerged underwater."

Showing some neighbourly chivalry Mr. Burnie dressed in a wet suit, and donned snorkel and mask in an attempt to salvage compact discs and other items belonging to the woman, from the bottom of the bay.

It took a towing company approximately five minutes to lift the car out of the water.