BERKELEY -- A man's trip to the beach to take photographs of his luxury SUV with the ocean as a backdrop turned into a major headache.

Video posted to Facebook shows a Land Rover sinking into the sand at Island Beach State Park as a man frantically tries to dig out the vehicle with a shovel while waves splash on top of it.

NBCNewYork.com said the driver arrived at Island Beach State Park around low tide. He eventually called for help and a tow truck was able to free the SUV for $200, according to Christopher Gillich, who shot the video when he stumbled upon the bizarre scene while leaving the beach.

During the ordeal, Gillich said the 20-year-old man dismissed suggestions that might have reduced the damage to the vehicle.

"The kid insisted on leaving it running the entire time in the water," Gillich said in an online conversation with NJ Advance Media. "He felt as though if he shut it off, he may never get it started again. I told him to at least close the driver's window. He told me not to worry about it -- the truck's waterproof."

Gillich said the man also disregarded the tow truck driver's advice to immediately bring the SUV to the dealer to trade in for a different vehicle.

Gillich said the car owner declined, saying the SUV was a "limited-edition" vehicle.

Gillich and the man parted ways when the Land Rover owner "insisted" on driving away. "The vehicle sounded like it was flushing seashells through the engine, grinding and cracking, and sizzling, smoking and steaming," Gillich wrote.

In addition, Gillich said the passenger's side of the SUV had dents from waves repeatedly crashing onto the vehicle.

In perhaps the only good news for the driver, he had a permit to take the SUV onto the beach and was not ticketed, NBCNewYork.com said.

Alyssa Passeggio contributed to this report. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.