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 located Andrew Giddens on Thursday, February 26, alive at the Vulcan Materials Company in Melrose, but caught in a thick substance that made it impossible for him to move.
Giddens’s relatives, who reported him missing, explained to police that he had become depressed in the wake of a recent breakup.
The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that Giddens, 36, who lives in Jacksonville, was stuck up to his shoulders in the mud in a borrow pit at the sand plant site.
Giddens spoke to first responders and told them he hadn’t consumed any food or water in days.
Officers looking for the missing man found his car near the sand plant on Monday, February 23. Searchers then fanned out , combing the industrial site in search of the missing man, according to the sheriff’s statement.
Workers 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.
“Due to the instability of the ground, responders had to progress slowly so they would not sink,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
“This rescue shows the power of mutual aid, training and dedication. We are grateful for the bravery and professionalism of everyone involved,” the Palatka Fire Department posted on Facebook, along with pictures from the rescue effort.
Giddens had sunk below the level of the grass surrounding the borrow pit, making him nearly impossible to see by anyone who wasn’t close by, according to officials.
The Palatka Fire Department said on Facebook that Giddens “had been stuck in mud for several days without food or water, while the area faced freezing temperatures.”
The rescuers had to use ropes, ladders, pallets, wooden boards and a number of 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 in the rescue, according to the sheriff’s office.
Investigators said they will not be charging Giddens with any crimes in relation to the incident, citing “his mental health” as the reason for his disappearance and the state in which he was ultimately found.
“We hope that he is able to recover from his ordeal both physically and mentally,” the sheriff’s statement said. “We also ask family members and friends to continue to check on loved ones, especially during times of high stress and anxiety.”
Officials noted he was lucky to have survived the ordeal, noting the area had been hit with freezing temperatures in recent days.
In a statement to NBC News, a spokesperson for Vulcan said their “team at the Grandin Sand Plant handled a trespassing situation with care and compassion, shepherding first responders to a man who was in distress. We are grateful for his safe rescue and thankful for the first responders who aided him.”
If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or considering suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
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