A Warwick woman?s birthday ended in tragedy in the early hours of yesterday when she drowned after her car plunged into Hamilton Harbour.

Members of the public and Police jumped into the harbour and desperately tried to save Agatha Smith, 52, after her car drove into the water around 3.25 a.m.

One man eventually pulled her body to the surface and emergency services worked on her for about half an hour.

But Ms Smith ? the mother of a grown-up son ? was declared dead by a doctor from King Edward VII Memorial Hospital at 4 a.m.

Police said yesterday they were still trying to find out exactly how the brown Volkswagen convertible ended up the harbour.

?Details surrounding the incident are unclear, however it appears that the victim drove her car into the parking lot opposite the Emporium building and then into Hamilton Harbour,? Police said in a statement.

Stephen Caton, who dived in with a Police officer to try to save the woman, said a man who made an earlier attempt to rescue Ms Smith held her hand as the car began sinking but was unable to pull her to the surface.

He then ran out of the water to summon help from Police.

Mr. Caton told he was waiting for a taxi on Front Street when he joined the Police officer and the first man running towards the flagpole where the car had plunged into the harbour.

?The first man who reported the incident and the Police officer came running by screaming for help and I joined in with them knowing I was a good swimmer,? said Mr. Caton, a captain in the Bermuda Regiment.

?The Policeman and I dove in then a third person dived in and he managed to get the body out. I managed to get to the top of the car, which I would estimate was about 25-30 feet down, but that was it.

?I had contact lenses on and the water was very dark, but the car?s headlights were on and you could work your way towards the light.

?The Policeman and I made about five or so attempts then the third man eventually brought the body to the surface. He was under the water for at least a minute and a half.

?The emergency services were there when the body was brought up to the surface at the steps and they worked on her for at least half an hour.

?The first person, the man who made the report to the Police, said he had her hand as she was going down.?

Ms Smith, of Middle Road, Warwick, turned 52 on Sunday and worked for an aviation firm.

Neighbours expressed their shock and sadness last night.

Sitting at his kitchen table, Nelson Hunt said Ms Smith, who rented a downstairs apartment from his wife, would probably have been sitting with them but for the tragedy.

He said she was generally a homebody.

He added: ?Honestly, from the bottom of one?s heart, she was a wonderful all-round person.

?She was like a part of the family so you can tell how hard it hit us this morning. She was a pleasure to be around.

?This has upset the whole family. You will probably find her up there as one of God?s cheerleaders. I will miss her. She was always up early, poking around. She was always happy.?

His wife Janet, who knew Ms Smith for 20 years, said her neighbour was fond of cooking in the yard and playing with the dogs. She also liked to watch sports on TV.

Another neighbour, Judith Simons, said she often enjoyed a joke with Ms Smith in the yard.

?When I woke up and didn?t see her car I thought it was at the mechanics. It was a shock when I heard.?

Police are appealing for witnesses to contact P.c. Peterkin on 299 4265.