A foreigner accidentally drove his car along a yacht launching ramp and into the sea at a private pier in Phuket in broad daylight on Tuesday morning.

The driver had attempted to steer his way through floodwater and instead ended up on the submerged boat maintenance ramp. He drove off the end and into the sea. 

The driver and passenger both escaped, along with their belongings, before the vehicle sank. Other than the driver being a foreigner, their personal details were not reported. 

Staff at the pier used a crane to recover the car, which was severely water damaged.

A video of the incident was widely shared on social media, with viewers pointing out the area was clearly a yacht ramp, not an access road.

Others suggested the driver may have been distracted. On a more understanding note, it was explained that a rising tide can make the ramp difficult to see.