Florida Man Rescued After 4 Days in Mud Pit

Authorities in north Florida rescued a man who had been trapped up to his shoulders in a mud pit for at least four days.

Putnam County deputies found 36-year-old Andrew Giddens on Wednesday, after his family reported he had been missing since becoming stuck in what they described as “quicksand” mud at a Vulcan Materials sand plant, according to the Guardian and KXAS. Giddens, who had previously been cited for trespassing at another Vulcan site in 2023, came to law enforcement’s attention when Deputy Derrick Holmes spotted his abandoned car near the property and learned his relatives had not seen him for several days. Holmes asked Vulcan employees to check the property, and two days later, a worker discovered Giddens alert but trapped and nearly camouflaged in a borrow pit, reports People and KXAS.

Fire crews used ladders, pallets, backboards, poles, and ropes to reach and free him without becoming stuck themselves. The rescue took about three hours, according to the Guardian. Giddens, who endured freezing temperatures and went without food or water, was airlifted in critical condition but is expected to recover physically.

Authorities said they will not pursue trespassing charges, citing concerns about Giddens’ mental health; family members noted he had been depressed following a breakup. Vulcan praised employees for helping guide first responders to “a man who was in distress.” An aunt wrote on social media that Giddens had been trapped for around four days and that “one more day” could have been fatal.

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