Svetlana Feldman surveys the accident scene. Picture by Murray Trembath
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A couple, who had to be pulled from a car after it crashed through a fence and into a swimming pool at Grays Point last night, are thankful for the quick actions of local residents.
"We have a saying in Russia, 'I swim like an axe'," said Svetlana Feldman, 81.
Ms Feldman was a passenger in the car, being driven by her friend Victor.
Returning to their Budyan Road home from a shopping trip about 7pm, they were finding it hard in the dark to reverse into their steep driveway.
As Ms Feldman was about to get out and guide, the car suddenly accelerated across the road, clipped a caravan parked on the street and then crashed through the fence of the house opposite and into its backyard pool.
The car in the pool on the morning after the crash. Picture by Murray Trembath
Asked if she was scared, Ms Feldman said, "Not really - I did not have time to be."
"The car went very fast...woosh."
Ms Feldman said she had lived in the street for 34 years, but knew few neighbours.
"We are very lucky they came to help." she said.
"You can't be upset, it's an accident. A lot of people have accidents."
Neither was injured and did not want an ambulance called, but neighbours insisted they be checked over by paramedics.
Rick and Kealii Fricker were in the lounge room of their home when they "heard an almighty crash" and went outside to find the car in their pool.
Mr Fricker ran to help, while his wife called triple zero.
Neighbours Karen Ward and her son, Oscar, 19, who were driving out of their home, climbed through the smashed fence to assist.
"The car landed in the deep end and was floating when we got there," Ms Ward said.
The accident scene. Picture by Murray Trembath
"Rick was there when we got to it. We pulled it to the shallow end, and Rick and I held it still while Oscar pulled the man out through the window, and then the lady came out.
"The water was about window level, up to her chest, by the time they got the lady out."
The rescuers said the couple was very lucky the glass fence of the swimming pool did not shatter and a pergola did not fall on the car, which would have weighed it down.
Police are urging anyone with information about the incident, or was in the area at the time with any relevant dashcam/mobile phone footage, to contact Sutherland Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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