That sinking feeling...

Gasping for air as we descended the final steps into Oxwich Bay after a sickening detour all the way up to the castle and back down to sea level, the screaming in our legs was wiped away by the view in front of us.

The beach was teeming with holiday makers revelling in the sunshine but for one poor soul who had just dropped his speed boat off into the water the day had just turned dark.

The tide comes in quickly there and his red van was swallowed by the sea within minutes of getting stuck.

My run from Llangennith along the coastal path had been tiring and completed only with the addition of Orpen from Port Eynon as company, but this man's fight to save his vehicle was relentless.

First he tried pulling it by hand with helpers; then using a jet ski as the water levels rose. A tractor was next to come to his aid but as the water crept forward up the beach, so the tractor had to retreat as well, always just too soon for the rope to be connected, leaving more rope to be found.

When it did reach, the driver accelerated too hard and snapped the lifeline on three occasions before admitting defeat.

The owner though, a local from the sounds of his accent, had no such luxury and resorted to using his own speedboat.

By now the van was floating but again the rope simply wasn't strong enough to hold the forces put upon it.

As we left half an hour later, in need of food and water, an anchor was produced and the painful decision made to secure the van and wait for the tide.

Lesson learned: patience and care required when playing with the sea or running along its edge, unless you like detours, rocks and dicing with oncoming waves... it's all about the timing.

As Nick pointed out during one of our over nighters in the Lakes. "Andy, you did check it was going to be a full moon didn't you? It's looking pretty dark."