Water police at Nerang River beside TSS recover van from water

The police dive squad have hauled a stolen vehicle out of a river beside a top private school. See the photos.

A black Hyundai van is pulled from the Nerang River. Picture: Charlton Hart.

A van has been pulled from the Nerang River beside The Southport School after a police operation.

Water police and a tow truck attended the area at about 11am on Thursday to recover the vehicle, which was first reported at about 1pm on Wednesday.

Officers wearing wet suits and carting oxygen tanks were seen at a boat ramp off Winchester Street. The tow truck arrived at the scene a short time later.

Water police working to recover the vehicle from the Nerang River. Picture: Charlton Hart.

A tow truck at TSS as water police worked to recover the vehicle. Picture: Charlton Hart.

In a delicate recovery operation spanning nearly 50 minutes police recovered a black 2015 Hyundai iLoad van from the river.

The vehicle’s front licence plate was missing.

The vehicle had been stolen from a car park at the Broadwater Parklands at about 9pm on Tuesday.

A tow truck removes the van from the scene. Picture: Charlton Hart.

A Queensland Police spokesperson said investigations into the incident were ongoing.

“Police initially responded to a marine incident involving a vehicle yesterday (Wednesday),” the spokesperson said.

“At about 1pm police received reports a vehicle was submerged in water near Winchester St.

“Initial investigations indicated nobody was near the vehicle or in danger.

The site in Southport where the police dive squad had a mystery van pulled from a river.

“The vehicle was marked with a buoy to alert marine vessels and arrangements were made for it to be recovered today.

“The police dive squad was on site to assist with the vehicle recovery.”

Police divers in the water of the Nerang River during the recovery operation. Picture: Charlton Hart.