The Collier County Sheriff’s Office airlifted a barefoot father and son from a mudhole in the Big Cypress National Preserve after their ATV ran out of gas. The pair, soaked and having lost their shoes in the mud, started a small fire to stay warm and called 911 as night fell. Deputies located them by GPS coordinates and by spotting the fire, hoisted them to safety, and reported no injuries.
‘Alligators Are Hungry’: Barefoot Father and Son Airlifted From Everglades Mudhole After ATV Runs Out of Gas
04:35 AM, 12/10/2025
A father and his son were rescued Thursday night after becoming stranded, barefoot and soaking wet in a mudhole in Florida's Everglades when their all-terrain vehicle ran out of fuel, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office said.
The men became stuck in the Big Cypress National Preserve and, with darkness approaching, called 911 for help. "My four-wheeler ran out of gas," the father told the dispatcher. "We got stuck in a mudhole, and now we’re just here stranded. Pretty far and almost out of water with my son."
Deputies said both men lost their shoes in the mud and built a small fire to stay warm. The father expressed concern about wildlife as night fell, telling the dispatcher, "But the sun’s going down and the alligators are hungry, buddy," according to WMGT-TV.
The Big Cypress National Preserve spans about 729,000 acres across multiple counties and is a vast, swampy area where conditions can change quickly.
Helicopter Rescue Locates Pair By Fire And Coordinates
Collier County Sheriff’s Office Aviation Bureau crews used the men’s GPS coordinates to begin the search. When deputies spotted the small fire the pair had started and saw the men waving, a helicopter crew hoisted the father and son to safety. Video released by the sheriff’s office shows the dramatic lift to the aircraft.
After being airlifted, the men extinguished their fire; 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.
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