Quicksand!

By Sarah Schwager
IT BECAME a case of rescuing the rescuer last Friday after a man became stuck chest-deep in mud in Tooradin.
The Cranbourne man had first ventured out to help two men in their 20s stuck in a stranded boat on the mudflats.
Police said the man, 59, and his adult son had tried to pull the fishermen’s boat to a ramp 20 metres away when he sank into the mud.
He tried to free himself but only sank deeper.
The son also got stuck, but managed to free himself, however he could not free his father and forced his way back to the shore to call emergency services.
Police said it was a race against time as the tide was coming in.
Country Fire Authority (CFA) crews from Tooradin and Kooweerup, Lang Lang lighting, State Emergency Services (SES), police and ambulance, with CFA’s Langwarrin rescue and Hallam Hazmat on their way.
Tooradin CFA captain David Bulman said when they arrived at the scene at about 7.30pm, the man was stuck nearly up to his shoulders in mud.
Capt Bulman said they sent two of their lighter men out to him with ropes, and were able to drag him out using one of the cars.
“It took about an hour. By then the hypothermia was starting to kick in,” he said.
The man was taken to Dandenong Hospital by ambulance where he was treated for hypothermia.
His son was also taken to hospital for observation and both were released by the weekend.
Police spokeswoman Marika Fengler said the man had spent 90 minutes stuck in the mud while the tide came in.
She said the boat with the two men was freed and floated back to shore.