Sand Safaris - We did all we possibly could

The tour bus company that lost one of its vehicles on 90 Mile Beach nine days ago has taken strong exception to a "fabricated" story about fluid leakage and the potential for environmental damage (Sea-ravaged bus not so harmless, October 29).

"This was a horrible experience for our company, for our driver, for our passengers, and for my partner and myself without adding further controversy," owner Sara Kennedy said.

The incident occurred at 3.45pm, more than three and a half hours after high tide, and after several other buses had rounded the Bluff.

"We reached the bus at 5pm, whereupon we contacted Nick Conrad, from DOC, who arranged a digger to come and salvage the bus. We tried until 11pm, but with an incoming tide we were unable to do so," she added.

"At four o'clock next morning my partner and our mechanic went up and found the bus on the rocks, a devastating sight.

"They removed the batteries, drained the oils and diesel, and secured the bus, leaving to arrange another salvage. This was done at 4.30pm by our mechanic and family members, safely and without damage to the environment."

No oil, diesel or battery acid had escaped, and there was "absolutely no evidence of any environmental damage. Nor had the bus been abandoned. The driver had been very cold after spending more than an hour in the water, and had needed to get off the beach.

"We did absolutely everything we could have possibly done, and no harm was done to the beach, the water or rocks," Ms Kennedy said, adding that the salvage would have been completed earlier but for another tour company telling digger operators not to help.

"Stories like this do not help," she said. "We have had a harrowing week, but we've been amazed at the support that has been shown to us from our staff, friends, family and the community. It makes me so proud, and then this."

A four-wheel-drive vehicle suffered the same fate as the bus, at the same location, on Monday. Fish Far North's Peter Birchall said he came across the vehicle and helped a person who was already trying, unsuccessfully, to get it back on its wheels and beyond the reach of the tide.

"I suspect, looking at the roof, the overnight waves gave it a good pounding.," he said.

"It was not the other person's vehicle either. He was just concerned about the oil and fuel leaking out, and I could see why. I don't think this one will ever be driven again."