DURHAM, N.C --A fishing trip gone wrong has a happy ending, but the man who lived through it was not so sure at first that he’d survive.[/align][/align]Donald Meeks set out with his bow and arrow to catch carp on Falls Lake. Because of the low water levels he had to walk across acres of mud flats. Shortly before 11 a.m. he stepped in a mud-filled cavity that trapped him until almost 3 a.m. the next day, when he was pulled free by rescuers.[/align][/align]He was back at his home Tuesday evening, thanks to a Durham County Sheriff’s deputy who believed they were close to finding Donald and wouldn't call off the searchuntil he tried one last move.[/align][/align]Meeks recalls how he became trapped as he tried to catch a fish lurking behind a tree stump. [/align][/align]“I stepped into a cavity,” said Meeks. “In a matter of two or three minutes, I knew I was trapped, and there was no way in the world that I was going to get out.”[/align][/align]The mud acted like a vacuum, sucking him deeper with each move.[/align][/align]“If I wanted to lift my left leg, I’d have to bear down on my right leg and thatleg would sinkdeeper,” he said.[/align][/align]As dark closed in, the Durham County Sheriff's people began searching, but the thick reed grass made it impossible to see far.[/align][/align]Major Mike Andrews said it was so thick, “we could be within 10 feet of him and not find him.”[/align][/align]Around 11:55 p.m. searchers were at the point of giving up for the night, but Major Andrews trusted his instincts that Meeks could still be found and called in a highway patrol chopper with heat-sensing devices.[/align][/align]Within three minutes of arriving on scene, the chopper spotted Meeks.[/align][/align]”Once we found Mr. Meeks, the ground was so saturated our rescuers couldn't get to him cause they were sinking,” said Major Andrews.[/align][/align]Eventually, they built a plywood ramp across the mud and rescued Meeks after two hours of hand digging.[/align][/align]As he sat at his kitchen table Tuesday evening, Meeks reflected on the experience.[/align][/align]“I certainly would not advise anyone to venture out on a dry lake bed,” he said. He also says he won’t give up bow and arrow fishing, but will do so from a boat from now on.[/align][/align][/align]I hear Mark S has one for sale. [/align]