Mudlark escapes death

[xcopperstax]

I'm kind of joking and kind of not joking. Sunday I found myself with a decent amount of time to go detect. I wanted to check out this spot near the highway that looked promising. When I was parking I noticed that this tidal area I've never checked was really low and there were exposed rocks I could walk on instead of just mud. To me that spells finds. Well as soon as I started walking I found coins all over the place by eye. This is what it must be like in England! Maybe there's something old. After picking up some change and a marble I went over to the wooded area by the highway to detect. It wasn't as good as I imagined and I ended up giving up with only an eyeballed coke bottle of an unknown vintage but it looked old enough to take. I decided to walk the tidal area again as I was intrigued. More coins and tons of fishing weights. On my way back to the car I stepped in some mud and went in a little deeper than normal. The next step was supposed to get me out and it also sunk in to the same depth. I struggled to lift my boots out and said uh oh I might be losing my boots. The next second I had sunk all the way up to my knees, the mud was now spilling over the top of my boots and couldn't pull out of the mud. It was starting to go past my knees! I would not say I panicked but I was worried now. Forget the boots I need to get out of the mud fast and what if I sink in deeper? I was thinking about flopping forward onto the mud but gave it another try. I leaned on my detector a little for balance and was able to pull out of the mud before all out panic came. I was close enough to shore that I could probably could have shouted for help or even called 911 but I feel like I was a couple seconds away from going in past my waist which would have done away with the phone option. The tide was coming in fast and I slogged back to my car covered in the stickiest smelliest black mud you've ever seen! To be honest I was shook by it and had that feeling for another hr. It was nice to escape death and have a couple marbles... at least I found something! Will I go back? Not if my wife has a say. Don't go out alone to a spot like that!

 

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[Ammoman]

eeek...scary for sure. When i was 19, i stepped off an embankment into the mouth of a river opening into the ocean. i was holding my surfboard when it happened and thank god for that! The water was only a couple feet above the sand but, when i stepped down i was up to my chin in a split second. obviously the sand was suspended and gave the elusion of being solid. I held on to my board, relaxed and floated back out within about 20 seconds. about 3 months later a kid died at the same spot and quick sand signs were posted to stay away.

 

[Digger RJ]

Nice!!! Congrats!!!

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Thank you for sharing, glad you made it out!

 

[Royn2751]

Super scary, really happy you kept your head and escaped.
Happened to me as a kid with crusted over mud at a construction site. Lost both "combat boots". I guess that dates me.

 

[GaRebel1861]

I'm glad your ok. I was walking in a lake bottom years ago that the power company had let the water out of for some repairs. I was looking for arrowheads and stepped off into a deep mud hole. Sunk up to my thighs immediately and had to crawl out on my belly to get free. I must have looked like a six foot tall turd with eyes when I got back to the truck.

 

[Jeff H]

Yeah X, don't go getting yourself killed. Your wife will yell at you. Nothing like stinking anaerobic tidal muck to clear your sinuses.

 

[Trezurehunter]

I like the marbles. I'm glad you didn't take a complete mud bath. Sounds like what you went thru was bad enough.

 

[xcopperstax]

Thank you for sharing, glad you made it out!

Me too! Thanks professor!

 

[xcopperstax]

eeek...scary for sure. When i was 19, i stepped off an embankment into the mouth of a river opening into the ocean. i was holding my surfboard when it happened and thank god for that! The water was only a couple feet above the sand but, when i stepped down i was up to my chin in a split second. obviously the sand was suspended and gave the elusion of being solid. I held on to my board, relaxed and floated back out within about 20 seconds. about 3 months later a kid died at the same spot and quick sand signs were posted to stay away.

Wow that sounds terrifying! Who would imagine quicksand? I could have foreseen it where I was but wouldn't think of it at a surf spot! Glad you made it out!

 

[xcopperstax]

I'm glad your ok. I was walking in a lake bottom years ago that the power company had let the water out of for some repairs. I was looking for arrowheads and stepped off into a deep mud hole. Sunk up to my thighs immediately and had to crawl out on my belly to get free. I must have looked like a six foot tall turd with eyes when I got back to the truck.

I can imagine the fear that must have caused! I tell you an area like that.. I'd be like the moth going to the flame. We both got off easy with warnings from mother nature!

 

[xcopperstax]

I like the marbles. I'm glad you didn't take a complete mud bath. Sounds like what you went thru was bad enough.

Thanks! I guess it all goes with the territory. If you play in mud expect to get muddy!

 

[xcopperstax]

Yeah X, don't go getting yourself killed. Your wife will yell at you. Nothing like stinking anaerobic tidal muck to clear your sinuses.

Yeah the smell is amazingly powerful and it's hard to wash off. Even after soap and hot water you can still smell it. Each day I detect my goal is to not get killed in the process!!!

 

[xcopperstax]

Super scary, really happy you kept your head and escaped.
Happened to me as a kid with crusted over mud at a construction site. Lost both "combat boots". I guess that dates me.

When you are a kid of course the element of danger makes you want to go there! I know it does for me and I'm not a kid anymore! haha. Glad you got out of it!

 

[lenmac65]

Man that is scary. I am going to remember this story and be a little more cautious than usual in places like that. I feel I take too many chances already pursuing this addictive hobby. Glad you are ok... be safe.

 

[A2coins]

2 years ago I decided to do some river detecting I even bought boots and a wet suit so I went to this old abandoned beach. Walk up to the water and before I even got to the water I took a step and my whole leg sunk to my waist this was black thick mud/cement my boot stayed in the mud as I pulled my leg out I wish I had a diaper on, cause I didnt ,I must have killed alot of fish LOL Glad you ok I did go back too.

 

[silverfreak]

Wow! Glad you came out okay!

 

[xcopperstax]

2 years ago I decided to do some river detecting I even bought boots and a wet suit so I went to this old abandoned beach. Walk up to the water and before I even got to the water I took a step and my whole leg sunk to my waist this was black thick mud/cement my boot stayed in the mud as I pulled my leg out I wish I had a diaper on, cause I didnt ,I must have killed alot of fish LOL Glad you ok I did go back too.

Tommy that sounds like the stuff of nightmares! Glad you got out of it ok. I'll be sure to wear a diaper next time... just to be safe!!!!

 

[xcopperstax]

Man that is scary. I am going to remember this story and be a little more cautious than usual in places like that. I feel I take too many chances already pursuing this addictive hobby. Glad you are ok... be safe.

Thanks! Yeah it's funny I generally think of it as one of the safest things but danger lurks around every corner! It was a good reminder to be safe!

 

[Red-Coat]

Spotted on the Thames foreshore a few years ago:



No, not an unfortunate mudlarker. Look more closely and you'll see it's a bunch of scrap metal with some rope wrapped around it. Gave the finders quite a scare though.