Bond car plunges into Lake Garda

James Bond's iconic Aston Martin has been fished out of Lake Garda in northern Italy.

It had plunged into the water while being driven to the set of the latest 007 film. Producers of Quantum of Solace, which stars Daniel Craig, said the car was being delivered to the set in heavy rain when the vehicle veered off the lakeside road.

Italian TV has shown footage of the smashed, black car being hoisted out of the water.

The car smashed through 20 meters of protective railings and fell 8 meters before hitting the lake, where it then sunk an additional 55 meters.

Fraser Dunn, 29, was at the wheel of the £134,000 (S$431,000) car when it skidded off the road and plunged into the icy waters at high speed.

He was left shaken but not stirred despite being knocked unconscious by the impact and when he came to the car was at the bottom of the lake - at a depth of more than 150ft.

Mr Dunn, who is an Aston Martin engineer and not a stuntman, suffered only minor injuries and was able to kick his way out of the car and swim to the surface - just like Her Majesty's favourite secret agent.

Today Mr Dunn, who is from Leamington Spa, was in hospital at Arco near Trento in northern Italy and said, "I'm doing very well considering what happened but I was very, very lucky.

"I do feel lucky to be alive because I was knocked out by the force of the impact and when I came to the car was at the bottom of the lake - I have been told it was 150ft down.

"The whole thing was a bit James Bond like - I just kicked out of the car and swam to the surface - my lungs felt as if they were going to explode and my chest still hurts now.

"Apart from a few bruises I am fine and I hope to be out of hospital within a day or so. It's actually very embarrassing and I'd like to try and forget the whole thing."

The accident happened in the early hours of the morning at Torbole on the edge of picturesque Lake Garda where filming for the new Bond film Quantum of Solace is taking place.

Mr Dunn added: "I have been out here for a month filming and working with cars. I'm an engineer with Aston Martin and not a stuntman - although I feel like one now.

"I have had a lot of support from the production team and I'm very grateful to them although as I said I'd like to put it behind me.

"I have been with Aston Martin for five years and I have never bent one until now. I can't believe I'm alive. I was very lucky.

A rescue crane and a team of divers was called into salvage the car but it is a complete write off with its roof caved in and windows all smashed.