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]

Yes I do. Check the classifieds!

I had a similar experience at the Des Plaines Conservation Area: my brother who is much larger than me ended up in the slop up to his groin. He was finally able to work his legs free but it was very tense for about 10 minutes.

I like wading but if it gets too mucky I always turn around. I'm glad Mr. Meeks is still among the living!

Wow.
That's a long time to be trapped.

DesPlaines Conservation Area definitely has some areas that are dangerous for wading, and I've been warned about places on the Fox River too.
Be careful out there.

I'm puzzled at the idea of giving up bowfishing because of getting stuck though. It had to be a traumatic experience, but it would take more than that to stop me from whacking fish.

He's not going to give up bowfishing, just the wading I think.

I've gotten stuck like that before, altho not nearly for that long a time(for those of you that know me, that's probably not a suprise). It's amazing how easily you go in, but how impossible it is to get out. It took me a while to get out, and I didn't go fishing alone in the area again for some time (Mazonia Fish and Wildlife Area). I'm glad he's okay.

Steve, I imagine you in the mud is much like me trying to 'sneak' through the woods wearing boots two sizes too big while having the climbing stand strapped to my back. Graceful... not.

BTW, I thought of you when I was walking back out of the woods on Wednesday night. I don't use a flashlight. I can pretty much see the stuff I need to. I was going through a lot of spider webs, can't see those. At one point I went face-first through a big web. I felt something on my chin and it was one of those BIG spikey haired orb spiders. I picked it off my chin but then it just hung on to my fingers. Ihad to dothe hand flail thing to shake it off. I figured you would have really enjoyed that.

You'd definetly be able to tell if I got a spider on my face. I'd probably have a black eye and a split lip from trying to get it off.

That's exactly why I hold my bow out in front of me when I'm walking to my stand in the morning. My favorite spot is down in the river bottoms and there's some big ole hairy ones down there. I HATE those things.