Rescuers found the man had become trapped in quicksand where only his chest, one arm and part of his leg were still visible – inflatable platforms were then used in a bid to save him
Rescuers were met with a quicksand nightmare unfolded when a man became trapped with a search and rescue team arriving to find just his head and arm visible.
The Bay Search and Rescue team were called out to reports of a man being trapped in quicksand near Silverdale, Lancashire, at about 11.30am on Saturday. They were alerted the man was stuck with a big tide rapidly pushing into the Bay.
A spokesperson said on the team’s Facebook page: “Very quickly we came across the casualty who was lying on his back in a soft gulley — at first glance only his chest, head, one arm, and part of one leg still visible, but because he had laid right he was thankfully not in too deep, but completely exhausted and quite hypothermic.”
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The team then inflated two rescue air pathways in order to reach the man. They then informed another team Holyhead of his exact location. One pathway was placed behind him to prevent him from sinking deeper and the other in front was carefully placed in order to free him.
A spokesperson continued: “We immediately transferred him into the Sherp for rewarming, as he was extremely cold and showing signs of hypothermia. Our medic assessed him and wrapped him in foil blankets whilst moving swiftly to a safer place for transfer.
“As we left the scene, the tide had already begun to fill the gulley — a surreal reminder of just how close this call was. The casualty was transported to the Bob In Café ahead of the flooding tide, where he was handed over to NWAS (North West Ambulance Service) for further assessment.”
Quicksand generally occurs in areas with a high water table, or large tidal areas. These areas can include beaches as well as marches and riverbanks. They can become dangerous when people become stuck which can lead you to becoming exposed to rushing water.
There have been instances of British people getting stuck in quicksand. A British tourist was dramatically rescued from an eight feet hole after being caught in quicksand and he said he believed he “was going to die.”
Jensen Sturgeon spent three hours trapped in the hole that he dug for himself and then needed other beachgoers to help drag him out. The incident happened on Rio de Janeiro’s famous Copacabana Beach in Brazil, on April 22.
He had been digging a hole when the sand suddenly caved in after he reached water. Jensen then felt himself becoming trapped in the sand and that his legs started to sink.
Fortunately, more than 30 people, including vendors and beachgoers, began attempting to save him. The rescue ended up taking more than three hours.