'The whole thing was a bit James Bond like'

As reported a few days ago, a major incident occurred on the Quantum of Solace set at Lake Garda, Italy when an Aston Martin DBS plunged into the lake after skidding off the nearby road.

In a report posted at The Telegraph, Fraser Dunn, the 29-year old who was driving the Aston Martin at the time, discussed the event.

Dunn, who was at a hospital in Arco near Trento in northern Italy said, ‘I’m doing very well considering what happened but I was very, very lucky.’

Dunn, an engineer and not a car stuntman, was knocked unconscious by the impact and didn’t come to until he had rode inside the car to the bottom of lake–a depth of approximately 150 feet.

‘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,’ he said.

‘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.’

‘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.’

‘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.’

Dunn further said: ‘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. All I remember was that the road was wet and I wasn’t going that fast but the next thing I knew I came off and I ended up in the water.

I can’t have been going that fast as another engineer was following me in a Fiat Punto. The next thing I remember is swimming up to the surface and the rescue people being there. How I managed to get out I will never know.’

Although a team of divers and a crane were able to retrieve the Aston Martin from the bottom of the lake, it is completely irreparable with smashed windows and a caved in roof.

The vehicle is currently at a wrecker’s yard and will soon be moved to Aston Martin’s Italian office at Padova.

Click the following links to view the Aston Martin being retrieved from the lake:

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

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