NAKHON RATCHASIMA: A policeman driving home from a party was lucky to escape alive when he drove his car off the road into a canal in the early hours of Wednesday.

Rescuers were called to the area about 4.50am.

They found a Toyota Fortuner in the canal. A Thai man aged about 40 years was waiting for help on the canalside. He appeared to be drunk.

Divers then attached a rope to the vehicle so it could be pulled to the shore. 

The driver (whose name was withheld) is a police officer based in Nakhon Ratchasima province. He was on his way home from a party with friends.

He told rescuers he felt drunk and sleepy, and finally dozed off behind the wheel. The next thing he knew he was in the water. Luckily, he had earlier opened some of the windows, and managed to get out the car and make his way to shore before it sank. 

The rescue team reported the drunk officer later hired another vehicle to continue his journey home.