In a dramatic rescue deep within the Florida Everglades, a father and his son were saved on Thursday night after they became stranded in a mudhole. The duo, barefoot and soaked, had managed to light a fire to signal their location to rescuers.
Their ordeal began when the ATV they were using ran out of gas while traversing the Big Cypress National Preserve, as reported by the Collier County Sheriff’s Office. As the sun began to set, the situation grew urgent, prompting the father to reach out to 911 for assistance.
“We’ve run out of gas on our four-wheeler,” the father relayed to the dispatcher. “We’re stuck in a mudhole, stranded here with my son. We’re running low on water and it’s getting late.”
The Big Cypress National Preserve is an expansive wetland, covering approximately 729,000 acres and spanning several counties, making it a challenging environment for the stranded pair.
Fortunately, the rescuers were able to locate the father and son by the fire they had built to stay warm and visible. The flickering flames were a crucial beacon in the vast, darkening swamp.
Adding to their predicament, both father and son had lost their shoes in the treacherous mud, leaving them vulnerable. The father also expressed anxiety over potential wildlife encounters as night descended, heightening the urgency of their rescue.
“But the sun’s going down and the alligators are hungry, buddy,” he told the dispatcher, per WMGT-TV.
Rescuers hoisted the two men to safety. No injuries were reported. (Collier County Sheriff’s Office)
Deputies said the men were soaking wet and started a fire to keep warm.
The sheriff’s Aviation Bureau launched a helicopter and tracked the men’s coordinates. They spotted the fire the men had started and saw the duo waving at the helicopter.
The father and son said their ATV had gotten stuck in the mud and ran out of gas at Big Cypress National Preserve on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (Collier County Sheriff’s Office)
Video released by the sheriff’s office shows the father and son being hoisted to safety. The sheriff’s office added that the men extinguished the fire upon their rescue.
No injuries were reported.
“This is another example of CCSO’s great training put into practice and the success that comes from seamless partnerships,” the sheriff’s office said.
