A stunned woman has found her car over 26 years after it was stolen… upside down in a dried-out marsh.
Emi Carrasco last saw her Opel Kadett on 5 August 1997.
It was pinched during a family day out at the beach.
She reported it as missing to the police at the time.
But after no updates from the police, she forgot all about it.
However, the authorities in Catalonia, Spain contacted her to say it was found.
She was instructed to remove the vehicle from the Riudecanyes marsh or risk facing a hefty fine.
Emi, who is originally from France, bought the car with her husband Manolo after their wedding.
It was the first car they bought together and had sentimental value to her.
She realised it was nicked when her nephew forgot to take his flip-flops to the beach and they went back to get them.
The car remained hidden in the water for nearly 30 years until the drought hit.
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After she was threatened with a fine, Carrasco was able to show the authorities that she filed a police report at the time of its theft.
Following the call, she went to the marsh with her husband and found the vehicle’s documents inside the wreckage.
They also found a jacket and her nephew’s forgotten flip-flops.
The local police, who are now responsible for removing the car from the muddy marsh, said they have opened an investigation to find the person responsible for the theft.
Carrasco said: “I thought it was a joke.”
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