A dopey driver left his handbrake off before walking away as it rolled into a pond.

Phop-ake Sanhu, 57, drove to the public park at a Buddhist temple in Sa Kaeo province, eastern Thailand last Wednesday (February 05) morning.

CCTV shows how he parked his gold Mazda 2, then ambled in front and plugged in his headphones while started his morning walk.

But the vehicle rolled forward over a grassy verge and a small road before it plunged into the water.

The driver did not notice what had happened until the vehicle hit the pond with a loud splash and a passing motorcycle rider began yelling to get his attention.

Workers later came to the park with a tow truck to retrieve the drenched car, which was taken straight to a mechanic to salvage.

The bungling driver said he went to the pond for a morning walk and to release fish into the water for good luck, a common Buddhist activity that followers believe will bring them luck and fortune.

Phop-ake said: "I only thought I would be gone for a short time so I didn't pay much attention to the car. I thought it was safe there.

"I was walking to the lake when I heard a loud splash from the water. When I turned around and saw my car was in the water I suddenly realised that I had probably left the handbrake off.

''I drove there to release fish for good luck so this was not what I was expecting. It was the opposite, it was bad luck.''

Provincial governor Trakoon Sukgoon warned people to be more careful when parking their cars.

He said: "Drivers should have their handbrake on when parking otherwise incidents like this could happen again. Fortunately, nobody was injured.''