A family has gone viral after sharing footage of a remote‑controlled vehicle recovery system lifting their stranded Nissan Pathfinder from a narrow cul‑de‑sac. The clip, filmed by Kirsty and posted online, shows the specialised equipment manoeuvring the SUV without needing direct access — a process her family described as both impressive and fascinating to watch.

Kirsty said the Pathfinder had broken down months earlier, and although recovery was included in their insurance, they initially forgot. When they finally arranged the collection, the job was delayed nearly 48 hours due to the tight road layout, which made it impossible for standard recovery trucks to reach the vehicle. Her partner, Jonathan, who had recently undergone shoulder surgery, was unable to assist physically.

Bolton Recovery Services was eventually dispatched with a rare remote‑controlled recovery system designed specifically for awkward, hard‑to‑reach spaces. The machine lifted and transported the SUV entirely by remote operation, while Kirsty filmed and their young son watched in the background.

“Our Nissan Pathfinder had broken down months earlier, and we initially forgot that recovery was included with our insurance. Once we contacted them, the vehicle was supposed to be recovered the following morning, but due to access issues, it ended up taking around 48 hours. The car was stuck on a very narrow cul-de-sac, and because of the size of the vehicle and the tight road layout, standard recovery trucks were unable to safely access or remove it. My partner had recently undergone shoulder surgery and was unable to assist physically. Eventually, Bolton Recovery Services were brought in with specialised remote-controlled recovery equipment designed to remove vehicles from tight and awkward spaces. The system lifted and transported the car without needing direct vehicle access, which we had never seen before. The entire process was controlled remotely, making it both impressive and fascinating to watch.”
“The video later went viral after the recovery driver mentioned that only around 12 of this specific recovery system were in use across the country. This sparked a wave of comments, with viewers sharing their own opinions, experiences, and even counting similar trucks used by different recovery companies, which added to the video’s popularity.”