Thread: Think shovel

Pic sent to me by a mate. obviously there was no landie around to get him out.

We saw something similar on Fraser Island 20 years ago at Ngkala Rocks. There was a toyo trayback up to the windows in the surf. Many straps and ropes were tied together for a couple of hunded feet leading to an old Rover with a winch on a sand bank. The tide was half in by this time and it was hopeless. All his camping gear was floating away and the surf was breaking into the cabin. The Rover gave up after breaking the straps several times.

Some of our party went down for a look at midnight (low tide) but it was hopeless. We all met there at midday the next day and the toyo was smashed onto the rocks and was in a hole in the sand to the depth of the roof. Several 'experts' were trying to winch him out etc. but the hole was too steep and the tide had turned. We tried to push him out but no good. I mentioned to a guy next to me that we should all be able to lift 100lbs or so. He agreed and we soon grabbed what we could around the vehicle and the old one two three with about 20 people worked well as we soon had him out and pushed above the high tide mark.

The next thing that was strange was watching everyone drive off and in the end there was only the guy, his 13yr old son, the toyo and the two vehicles in our party. I asked the guy "was someone going for help?" He was still in shock and said he did not know what to do as he was here with his son and no one else. I asked him what was the plan? He just shook his head and said he just reconditioned the engine before the trip, had no insurance and his wife just left him. He had no money as his wallet floated away. I have him $20 for food and phone ($20 went a long way 20 years ago).

We had to leave him as we had a group of Duke of Edinburgh Award hikers on board. I told the guy we would come back in three days and would have four days to help him. We came back as promised but the toyo, the guy and son were gone.

I don't know where he went but it should be a lesson to all that sand driving and tides are dangerous. I asked him how he got stuck. He tried driving around the rocks rather than the bypass track. Got stuck and no one stopped to help until it was too late.

Good lesson for us I guess.