Not-so-smooth sailing for garda van as beach visit backfires at busy Irish coastal hotspot
Garda van parks on double yellow (sand) lines on popular Co Kerry beach
A garda patrol of a popular Irish beach on a blisteringly hot Saturday didn't go swimmingly for one officer as his van got stuck in soft sand.
Thousands of people headed to the coast this weekend to enjoy the sensation of sand between their toes, but sand stuck in the treads of tyres is another story.
A video of the incident on Ballybunion beach in County Kerry has been shared on social media with beachgoers attempting to help pull the garda van back to terra firme.
It occurred on the "Men's Beach" in Ballybunion - at the end of the narrow road that leads down to the sand - early on Saturday evening.
Gardaí were asked if the officer was responding to an incident on the beach at the time.
"We’ve no reports of any incidents currently listed for this location within the timeframe," said a garda spokesperson.
Thankfully, the garda van got stuck well behind the tide mark so there was no risk of it being washed out to sea.