Couple, neighbour find mud sticks

The 4WDs of Alex Chung and his helpful neighbour stuck in the mud yesterday. Picture / Dean Purcell

West Auckland man Alex Chung was trying to help calm his wife's pre-medical appointment nerves when he suggested she take the inflatable boat out in the Waitemata Harbour yesterday afternoon.

The idea worked well until the tide changed and the boat got stuck in the mud. Mr Chung said he drove his Mitsubishi Delica on to the mudflats off the Te Atatu Peninsula to retrieve the boat but he too ended up stuck.

To make matters worse a neighbour tried to help, against Mr Chung's advice, and his Toyota Prado quickly ended up the same way. When a certain amount of digging with spades failed to free either vehicle, Mr Chung called a specialised towing company which turned up with a tractor.

Unfortunately only one vehicle could be removed and Mr Chung's remained out in the harbour last night. Mr Chung said his main concern was that his vehicle could be a hazard to boaties or cause environmental problems - not the fact it was likely to be damaged after being half submerged in water.

He has informed the Waitakere City Council and hopes to be back out there today to retrieve the vehicle. Mr Chung said the mudflats looked solid but were far from it and warned others from venturing out in their vehicles.