Story By: John Feng, Sub-Editor:Jamie King, Agency:Asia Wire Report

Video Credit: AsiaWire

This is the moment dozens of villagers help pull a car from a frozen lake where a drink-driver who was still trapped inside had been looking for a spot to fish with pals shortly before.

Footage from the city of Siping in north-eastern China’s Jilin Province shows dozens of locals risking their own lives trying to stop the saloon car from sinking further into Erlong Lake.

They can be seen pulling the car backwards using several ropes tied to the spokes of the wheels.

The body of water popular with tourists all year round has frozen over in the frigid temperatures reaching minus 22 degrees Celsius in the night.

The 31-year-old driver and his two drunk friends decided to drive across the lake as a shortcut and also to take the opportunity to do some ice-fishing, officers with Erlong Lake Police Station said in a statement.

Picture Credits: AsiaWire

Authorities say all three men were drunk at the time, and they were ill-prepared when the heavy saloon car plunged into the freezing-cold waters after having being driven straight into a hole.

The driver’s two passengers managed to escape and called their friends and relatives to help.

However, when the vehicle was finally heaved onto the surface of the ice, the driver was found without vital signs still in his seat, reports said.

Siping police now investigating the case have asked members of the public to take caution when crossing Erlong Lake, which has some sections of fragile ice due to fluctuating temperatures.