Coastguards from South Woodham Ferrers waded in to help stop a bus sinking to the bottom of a river.
The bus was attempting to ford the flooded road on Wallasea Island and suddenly tipped on to its side as it was being carried off by the water.
The vehicle passed a number of other cars into the water as onlookers watched.
The coastguard, paramedics and firefighters were called to help save the driver and one male passenger.
The bus was beached inside a ditch, beside the flooded road.
The South Woodham Ferrers Coastguard Team posted on social media after the incident, saying: "We were tasked Saturday at 14:58 to Creeksea Ferry Road on Wallasea Island to reports of a bus which had gone off the road in the the river.
"Team stood down as Casualties had been recovered by Fire Service personnel."
Essex Police's Castle Point and Rochford local policing team warned residents the road had to be closed after the incident.
The vehicle was then removed from the ditch and towed away.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here