Ahipara-based tour company Sand Safaris lost one of its buses on 90 Mile Beach on Tuesday afternoon - but at least one local person saw a silver lining.
As the low tide turned and waves began reaching the bus late in the day he emerged from the vehicle, clutching something in one hand.
Asked by Houhora's resident police officer, Senior Constable Tracee Knowler, what he had helped himself to he replied: "Just a sandwich."
The bus came to grief as it was heading south from a trip to Cape Reinga, apparently hitting a deep hole below rocks immediately north of The Bluff. The driver and passengers disembarked unharmed, and were delivered to Kaitaia aboard a bus operated by another local company.
By the time police and the Northern Advocate's sister paper, the Northland Age arrived there was no sign of anyone apart from a few onlookers.