Abandoned Jeep once stuck in surf towed off Myrtle Beach; owner explains what happened

"My cousin has been around. He rides a motorcycle, so I thought I’d let him borrow my Jeep because the weather has been so bad," the owner said. "He thought it would be cool to go on the beach and take a quick video of the sunrise before the storm came."

The man's cousin was recording the scenery when the Jeep's tires sank in the sand. He called people for help, but the conditions were too bad for anyone to tow the SUV off the beach. The Jeep’s owner said his cousin didn’t even tell him what happened, until police showed up at the owner's door.

"He avoided me for a good hour or two because he didn’t know what to say. And then police actually came to the house, and they said, 'Hey we found your Jeep on the beach.' Then I called him and spoke to him and he told me exactly what happened,” the Jeep’s owner said.

The owner said he hopes it’s not totaled, but he has a feeling it is.

“I didn’t want it totaled," he said. "The Jeep is an awesome Jeep."

Police, who had more important rescues to tend to during the hurricane Thursday, said there wasn't much they could do at the time. On Friday, the Jeep was towed off the beach.

Before it was rescued from the ocean, curious onlookers waded through the surf and jumped onboard the unsteady vehicle to pose for photos. Later, a man showed up to play Amazing Grace on bagpipes as he walked beside the stranded SUV.