Trapped Man Rescued from Quicksand

June 19, 2012; 6:15 PM
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A 51-year old man was rescued by the Solent Coastguard in Hampshire, England Saturday when he became trapped in quicksand.

The man was walking along the beach at Milford by the Sea with his bike when the tide started coming in, according to BBC news. He moved further up the beach and became stuck in quicksand up to his waist. He was able to use his cellular phone to call for help.

The man was stuck for about 40 minutes before being rescued by teams from Lymington and Southbourne. A special coastguard mud rescue team also assisted the man.

Period of heavy rain in the area is believed to have caused the quicksand.

"The area near Milford on the Sea has already picked up 13.3 cm (5.22 inches) of precipitation. Normal for this time in June is 3.1 cm (1.24 inches)," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Evan Duffey.

Quicksand is formed when water flows between particles of sand and causes them to lose friction, according to unmuseum.org. The water acts as a lubricant and the grains of sand become suspended in the water and then becomes liquefied.

If you become trapped in quicksand, don't panic. Most quicksand is only waist deep and you should be able to reach the bottom. If you can't, dispose of any extra weight you may be carrying. Weight of a backpack or purse could cause you to sink faster.

The best way to escape if you don't reach the bottom is to swim towards firmer land with slow, deliberate movements. Caution people who try to help away from you to avoid them becoming stuck also.

It may take a long time to swim to firmer land, but by laying horizontal you will be more buoyant. With patience you can make it to safety.


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