An Argentinian casanova trying to impress three young female German tourists by balancing on the outside of a vehicle as they drove along 90 Mile Beach ended up being flown to hospital.
Kaitaia police Constable Kelly Bates said the 20-year-old man was a passenger in the vehicle with the three Germans as they travelled up the beach on Monday.
She said it appeared the man climbed out a rear window and was balancing on the running board as they travelled at about 60km/h.
Ms Bates said the man slipped off the running board, fell and struck his head on the sand.
One of the German girls drove back to the Bluff where they raised the alarm with several locals on the beach, who helped the injured man until emergency services arrived.