Authorities have found a Florida man who went missing on Valentine’s Day shoulder-deep in muck authorities have likened to quicksand.
First responders in Palatka positioned Andrew Giddens on Thursday, February 26, alive on the Vulcan Materials Company in Melrose, but caught in a thick substance that made it not possible for him to maneuver.
Giddens’s relatives, who reported him missing, explained to police that he had turn out to be depressed within the wake of a recent breakup.
The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office said in an announcement that Giddens, 36, who lives in Jacksonville, was stuck as much as his shoulders within the mud in a borrow pit on the sand plant site.
Giddens spoke to first responders and told them he hadn’t consumed any food or water in days.
Officers searching for the missing man found his automotive near the sand plant on Monday, February 23. Searchers then fanned out , combing the commercial site searching for the missing man, based on the sheriff’s statement.
Employees spent three hours freeing Giddens from the muck. Once freed, he was rushed to the hospital, where doctors expect him to make a full recovery.
“Resulting from the instability of the bottom, responders needed to progress slowly in order that they wouldn’t sink,” the sheriff’s office said in an announcement.
“This rescue shows the ability of mutual aid, training and dedication. We’re grateful for the bravery and professionalism of everyone involved,” the Palatka Fire Department posted on Facebook, together with pictures from the rescue effort.
Giddens had sunk below the extent of the grass surrounding the borrow pit, making him nearly not possible to see by anyone who wasn’t close by, based on officials.
The Palatka Fire Department said on Facebook that Giddens “had been stuck in mud for several days without food or water, while the world faced freezing temperatures.”
The rescuers had to make use of ropes, ladders, pallets, wood boards and various different tools to remove him from the mud, authorities explained.
Putnam County Fire Rescue, Palatka Fire Department, Melrose Fire Department and Clay County Fire Rescue all assisted within the rescue, based on the sheriff’s office.
Investigators said they’ll not be charging Giddens with any crimes in relation to the incident, citing “his mental health” as the rationale for his disappearance and the state during which he was ultimately found.
“We hope that he’s capable of recuperate from his ordeal each physically and mentally,” the sheriff’s statement said. “We also ask relations and friends to proceed to envision on family members, especially during times of high stress and anxiety.”
Officials noted he was lucky to have survived the ordeal, noting the world had been hit with freezing temperatures in recent days.
In an announcement to NBC News, a spokesperson for Vulcan said their “team on the Grandin Sand Plant handled a trespassing situation with care and compassion, shepherding first responders to a person who was in distress. We’re grateful for his protected rescue and thankful for the primary responders who aided him.”
In the event you or someone is in emotional distress or considering suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).