Additional Coverage:
- Experienced hiker rescued after getting trapped in quicksand at Utah’s Arches National Park (foxnews.com)
Experienced Hiker Rescued After Hours Trapped in Arches National Park Quicksand
An experienced hiker, Austin Dirks, narrowly escaped a life-threatening situation on Sunday after becoming trapped in quicksand for hours at Arches National Park in Utah. Dirks, who boasts thousands of miles on hiking trails, described the ordeal as “the closest I’ve ever come to dying.”
Dirks recounted to FOX13 Salt Lake City that he was trekking through the upper end of Courthouse Wash just before sunrise when his left leg unexpectedly sank into what he believed was solid ground. After successfully extracting it, he shifted his weight to his right foot, only to find himself submerged up to his knee.
“It felt like I had stepped into concrete, and then it hardened around my leg. I couldn’t even move it a millimeter,” Dirks stated.
Quickly realizing the gravity of his situation, Dirks utilized a GPS satellite messenger to alert authorities to his precise location. The most challenging aspect, he noted, was the agonizing wait for rescue.
Enduring two hours in frigid 20-degree temperatures, stuck at a precarious 45-degree angle, Dirks’ spirits lifted when he spotted a rescue drone overhead. Drone footage subsequently captured the arrival of rescuers in the canyon and their efforts to free him.
“I realized that that’s the closest I’ve ever come to dying,” Dirks told the outlet, expressing immense gratitude to his rescuers. “I owe them my life.”
Dirks admitted that prior to this harrowing experience, he had always considered quicksand to be more of a “folklore or a legend” typically seen in movies. He now understands the stark difference between Hollywood’s dramatic portrayals and the reality of quicksand.
Real quicksand is a muddy blend of sand, water, and sometimes clay, formed by rising groundwater. While it won’t support much weight, humans are too buoyant to fully submerge.
“How it’s depicted on TV is nothing like it is in real life,” Dirks explained. “The human body is more buoyant than the quicksand, so you’ll never sink to above your head.” Experts suggest that leaning back in quicksand can help distribute weight and alleviate pressure around the legs, aiding in escape.