Stuck in the Mud: Fisherman Rescued from MA River

Feb. 24, 2022
Firefighters in Salem had to rescue a fisherman who was stuck in mud in the North River.

Firefighters in Salem had to think outside of the box to rescue a fisherman stuck in the mud of the North River during low tide.

The rescue took place when the fisherman, unfamiliar with the area, ventured out toward the water and became stuck.

"He said it was fine, just a little muddy, then all of a sudden, he took a couple steps, and he was, like, thigh-deep in the mud and couldn't get out," the man’s girlfriend told NBC 10 Boston.

When firefighters arrived, they realized their typical water rescue resources would not work in this case. Firefighters decided to get plywood from a local lumber yard.

With the tide coming back in, firefighters were working against the clock to free the man and bring him back to shore.

Crews laid the plywood out like tiles to reach the man who was about 100 yards from shore and dig him out.

Once crews dug him out, they got on a sheet of plywood and rowed in the mud back to shore.

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