An elderly driver has been rescued from his sinking car after accidentally driving through a ferry boom gate in South Australia’s Riverland region.

7NEWS obtained dramatic pictures of the rescue showing the driver trapped in his car at Waikerie .

The Holden Captiva had plunged into the Murray River after smashing through a ferry boom gate just after 11am on Wednesday.

Within seconds, the vehicle was drifting downstream and had begun to submerge.

Witnesses told 7NEWS they heard a loud bang before seeing the car launch into the water.

“The ferry was heading across the river then I heard a loud bang and saw a car riding straight into the river… tried to ring 000,” Brett Noble said.

As the car went under, strangers rushed to help.

A good Samaritan stripped down and dived in, dragging t

See Full Page