Four-wheel-drive wasn't enough to get the driver of a Suzuki Escudo out of a tight spot at Waihi Beach.
A 22-year-old Cambridge man drove the vehicle down the beach about 3am yesterday while he was fishing with a mate and got stuck when he hit soft sand in front of Brewer
Park, said Sergeant Dave Litton of Waihi police.
The occupants left on foot with the intention of arranging salvage at the next low tide at 2pm, but "didn't think to report the mishap".
The 4WD was submerged by the incoming sea and a retired Shaw Rd resident phoned police about 10am after she and her husband noticed the vehicle from their home as the tide dropped.
"We couldn't work out what it was at first," said the woman, who asked not to be named.
"It looked a bit like a kontiki."
But once the vehicle became identifiable, the couple were impressed by how quickly Mr Litton stripped down and swam out to check that no one was inside.
Before police could rescue the vehicle about 3pm, using a digger already on-site for seawall construction, the driver beat them to it. The Suzuki was understood to belong to his father.
