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Amphibious car challenge completed by volunteers

Jake WallaceGuernsey
St John's Guernsey A bright yellow amphibious car in the water next to the marine ambulance. The boot is open on the car which is covered in sponsor stickers. A man is in the driving seat of the car and a dog is in the passenger seat. Another man is standing above the car on the marine ambulance.St John's Guernsey
The car was tested in Guernsey harbour

An amphibious car has completed a nine-mile (14.5km) journey from Guernsey to Sark to raise money for the St John Marine Ambulance.

The car was transformed by marine ambulance crew volunteers with the support of local businesses.

It left from Old Lifeboat Slipway, near the Model Yacht Pond on Guernsey's Castle Emplacement, at about 09:30 BST and arrived in Sark at about 12:30.

Volunteers Paul Philips and Gary Ward, who completed a similar challenge in 1992, crewed the vessel.

Philips said the car had "attracted a lot of attention during the summer".

St John Marine Ambulance Guernsey A 1992 white converted car in the water. St John Marine Ambulance Guernsey
A similar challenge took place in 1992

He added: "There's a been a lot of work, all undertaken by volunteers, to get us to this point and get the car ready, but this is what we've all been building up to."

The vehicle had been scheduled to undertake the first leg to Herm on 28 July but the crossing was postponed due to bad weather.

Speaking before the challenge, Ward said: "We are very excited and eager to go.

"We were a little disappointed to postpone the Herm leg last week but safety has to be the top priority."

St John Marine Ambulance Guernsey The yellow car in the water, next to a large marine ambulance vessel. St John Marine Ambulance Guernsey
St John Marine Ambulance congratulated the crew on making the crossing and helping to raise money for the service

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