Father and Son Rescued from Mud in Florida Everglades

A father and son, found barefoot and stuck in a mud hole in the Florida Everglades, were rescued Thursday night after police spotted a fire they had started to keep warm.

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office reported that the pair had run out of gas while riding their ATV and, unfortunately, became trapped in the muck at Big Cypress National Preserve. As darkness fell, they decided to call 911 for assistance.

“The four-wheeler ran out of gas,” the father explained to the dispatcher. “Now we’re stuck here. My son and I can hardly get out of the water.”

The preserve is a massive expanse, stretching over 729,000 acres across several counties.

The father mentioned that both he and his son had lost their shoes in the mud, leaving them barefoot and exposed. He expressed concern about potential encounters with wildlife as night approached.

“But the sun is setting and the alligators are hungry, buddy,” he said during the call.

Emergency responders noted that the two were soaked and had managed to start a fire to help keep warm.

The Sheriff’s Aviation Department dispatched a helicopter to track their whereabouts, using the coordinates provided. They spotted the fire and saw the men signaling for help.

After being rescued, the father and son were lifted to safety, and it was confirmed that they had no injuries. The sheriff’s office commended the effectiveness of their training and the seamless collaboration in the rescue efforts.

In a video released by the sheriff’s office, the father and son can be seen being pulled from the scene, having extinguished the fire during their rescue.