A 20-YEAR-OLD man died after a car collided with a bank, flipped in the air and landed upside down in a swimming pool in a crash near Bradford on Avon.

Ashley Ivan Brixley, a builder from Standerwick in Somerset, was a passenger in a blue Clio Sport, which struck a bank on the A36 at Limpley Stoke at 12.50am on Sunday.

The car sank when it landed upside down in a swimming pool in the grounds of Millbrook House Bed and Breakfast and Mr Brixley was pronounced dead at the scene, despite the frantic rescue efforts of the first police officers at the scene.

A 16-year-old girl from Frome and the 24-year-old driver from Trowbridge managed to escape from the car without serious injury.

The driver was arrested at the scene on suspicion of drink-driving but has been released on bail pending further inquiries.

PC Gary Jones and Sgt Mark Rees, of Bradford on Avon police station, were first on the scene and found the driver and female passenger being looked after by Lindsay Markham, owner of Millbrook House Bed and Breakfast.

Ms Markham, who described the incident as "appalling" and "terrible", said the teenage girl had knocked on the door of her guest home in a "state of terrible distress" to raise the alarm.

Together with her young son James she comforted the two survivors inside the house until emergency services arrived.

PC Jones said: "The car was upside down in the swimming pool.

"Sgt Rees jumped into the pool with PC Mike Smith from the armed response group.

"PC Smith dived into the pool and got the man out of the car. We got him onto the grass at the side of the pool and commenced CPR but there were never any signs of life.

"It was very unfortunate. Without the pool being there it would probably have been a straightforward accident with not very serious injuries."

Fire crews from Bradford on Avon, Trowbridge and Bath were called to the scene, as well as an air ambulance, accident investigators and family liaison officers.

Sgt Rees injured his leg during the attempted rescue operation and

is now walking with the help of crutches.

Police left the scene at 6.30am after a recovery vehicle removed the car from the swimming pool.

An investigation is under way to identify the cause of the crash.

PC Stephen Cox, of Melksham Police, said: "We are trying to get to the bottom of why the vehicle left the road.

"Officers are taking witness statements, examining the car and analysing skidmarks on the road.

"The driver has been bailed to come back to the police station in mid-November."

An inquest into Mr Brixley's death was due to be opened by Wiltshire Coroners' Court either yesterday or today.