Man Trapped in Mud Rescued by Firefighters in Clinton

MEDIA CONTACT: Mark E. Brady, Chief Spokesperson, 240-508-7930

Prince George’s County Firefighter/Medics and the Departments Technical Rescue Team rescued a worker that was trapped in mud up to his waist this afternoon. At about 11:45 am, Thursday, January 12, 2012, Fire/EMS units responded to the Cosca Lake, which encompasses about 11 acres and is part of the 690 acre Cosca Regional Park, 11000 Thrift Road in Clinton. Cosca regional Park is managed by the Maryland National Park and Planning Commission.



Cosca Lake is undergoing renovation and has been nearly drained of its water. An employee performing work on the lake became stuck in the muddy lake bed and sunk up to his waist. Firefighters used ground ladders stretched about 65 feet over the ground from shoreline to the victim. Fortunately, the adult male victim was wearing waterproof wading pants. The design of the pants prevented the thick wt mud from compressing the man’s legs, only the pushing up against the exterior of the wading pants.

Firefighters and Technical Rescue team members dug away the top layer of mud and then were able to lift the man up and out of his wading pants that remained stuck in the mud. He was escorted over the ladders to the shoreline where awaiting medics initiated treatment. 27 members of the Fire/EMS Department were on the scene. It required about 45 minutes to effect the rescue after arrival of Fire/EMS units. The man had been trapped in the mud for just over an hour before he was rescued.

The adult male was transported to an area hospital by paramedics but did not appear to have suffered any serious injuries.


Cosca Lake, which encompasses about 11 acres and is part of the 690 acre Cosca Regional Park, 11000 Thrift Road in Clinton. Cosca regional Park is managed by the Maryland National Park and Planning Commission.


He was escorted over the ladders to the shoreline where awaiting medics initiated treatment. 27 members of the Fire/EMS Department were on the scene.

Firefighters used ground ladders stretched about 65 feet over the ground from shoreline to the victim.

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