Man missing since Valentines Day found trapped in quicksand

[BogDog]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/flo ... 26101.html

A Florida man who went missing on Valentine's Day was rescued on Thursday after being stuck to his shoulders in mud described as "quick sand" without food or water for several days.

Putnam County Sheriff's Office said Andrew Giddens, a 36-year-old from Jacksonville, was rescued from a Vulcan Materials Company site east of Melrose.

Giddens had not been seen by his family since Feb. 14 and was the subject of a missing persons report. His family and friends had raised the alarm with authorities after he became depressed following a recent relationship breakup, the sheriff’s office said.

The sheriff's office said on social media that deputies found Giddens on Thursday "covered to his shoulders in the mud and had sunk below the level of the grass surrounding the borrow pit, making him virtually camouflaged."

The Palatka Fire Department said on Facebook that Giddens "had been stuck in mud for several days without food or water, while the area faced freezing temperatures."

A video of the incident shows deputies initially struggling to pull Giddens free using ropes and then using ladders, pallets, wooden boards and other tools to dig him out.

[Mynock]

That's gotta be one of us. He'd been caught there before. Glad the guys ok.

[SunbeamZero]

If I may add something, there's actual possible quicksand where it's not deadly as it seems according how it portrays in movie theatres or all the QS artists drawing/animation quicksand scenarios. It's more of either the diseases, lack of food or water, or predators something like that may get to you first while being in a vulnerable position. And it's challenging for one to really get out if it's thick and dense.

Because I know so many QS fetishes despite quicksand is a dangerous perilous natural thing, they still deliberately want to find it and sink themselves into it and risk their lives. NGL I myself would dare to go and sink but I play it safe.

[DezzBear]

When I saw this I immediately thought to myself if he was some random guy who genuinely got stuck or if he must of been a sinking enthusiast who got a little too stuck. Who else thinks the same? Either way, poor guy, hope he’s in better health.

[mudxdresser]

I've briefly corresponded with several what seemed like inexperienced mudmen in the Jacksonville area only to have them go silent and sort of wonder if he was one of them. Yes, yes, I understand everybody is searching Google satellite view for that Melrose, Florida mudpit to plan their next road trip but I noticed something important about that place in one of the news reports that bears contemplating, that is a sand quarry!

That means that it is certain that at least some part of the mud settling pond will have a high probability of having a very dangerous sandy quicksand area even though there may be a creamy clay mud area at the back end of pond. I've been to many many sand and gravel operations and they are inherently dangerous anytime you need to be in the quicksand area and it is common that the only wash up water is on top of quicksand. Make sure you have some sort of unbendable metal digging tool around your neck if you are going to be visiting such a place and preferably a friend who knows exactly where you are and when you should return by.

Also, that particular quarry has locations all over the US and it is certain that the safety/security employees will be aware of this incident and watching for us this year. Also, if anyone knows of any forums where Giddens is a member, please let us know his username as he most likely confessed that he was a mud fetishist to the constabulary and some of them may be poking around on the forums if he raised the curtain on our activities.

Notice also that he was not arrested though this happened in rural Florida, the official story is they had mercy as he had suffered enough. That is unlikely as he had been apprehended at another nearby quarry not long ago. The way this usually goes is they offered not to arrest him if he was truthful with them and that is the real reason he was not arrested.

[Metablip]

I've briefly corresponded with several what seemed like inexperienced mudmen in the Jacksonville area only to have them go silent and sort of wonder if he was one of them. Yes, yes, I understand everybody is searching Google satellite view for that Melrose, Florida mudpit to plan their next road trip but I noticed something important about that place in one of the news reports that bears contemplating, that is a sand quarry!

That means that it is certain that at least some part of the mud settling pond will have a high probability of having a very dangerous sandy quicksand area even though there may be a creamy clay mud area at the back end of pond. I've been to many many sand and gravel operations and they are inherently dangerous anytime you need to be in the quicksand area and it is common that the only wash up water is on top of quicksand. Make sure you have some sort of unbendable metal digging tool around your neck if you are going to be visiting such a place and preferably a friend who knows exactly where you are and when you should return by.

Also, that particular quarry has locations all over the US and it is certain that the safety/security employees will be aware of this incident and watching for us this year. Also, if anyone knows of any forums where Giddens is a member, please let us know his username as he most likely confessed that he was a mud fetishist to the constabulary and some of them may be poking around on the forums if he raised the curtain on our activities.

Notice also that he was not arrested though this happened in rural Florida, the official story is they had mercy as he had suffered enough. That is unlikely as he had been apprehended at another nearby quarry not long ago. The way this usually goes is they offered not to arrest him if he was truthful with them and that is the real reason he was not arrested.

I've been visiting a different quarry from the same company in FL for a few seasons now and am hoping this doesn't elevate security too much but I'm certainly anticipating it.

[mudxdresser]

Alas, I've had a lot of experience with compromised quarry mud locations due to people getting caught there and have never seen there not be repercussions soon after, and those problems often endure. For instance, my favorite quarry I go to is has been very aware of mudmen for decades and they go looking for you from time to time if they see any sign of your presence such as disturbed mud.

I accidentally met a quarry safety chief for several quarries owned by the same company as he was a musician and the topic came up while he was talking about his day job. I asked a light duty question that led him in the right direction and he started talking about how they patrol their mud ponds, which, uh, I already knew from experience! The important thing is that I learned he network with other quarries that were not owned by his company on safety and security matters.

Keep a good watch for the coming mud season. I haven't been able to park my car anywhere within a couple of miles of a quarry without drawing attention in over a decade.