Tourist stuck in silt near a river in Alaska and drowned: rescuers could not get him out in time

Zachary Porter, 20, of Lake Bluff, Illinois, was walking through a mudflat on May 21 with friends in Alaska. Suddenly, the guy was stuck waist-deep in silt that looked like quicksand. He drowned at high tide before rescuers could help him, reports AP.

Photo: IStock

Porter's friends called 911 when they couldn't get him out, but authorities said it was too late. His body was removed on the morning of May 22, Alaska State Forces spokesman Austin McDaniel said.

insidious silt

Liman or estuary is essentially a bay with winding low banks at the confluence of the river into the sea. When the tide comes in, the silt at the bottom gets wet, loosens and can create a vacuum and suck in a person who steps on it. A person gets stuck in this trap and drowns at high tide.
Signs are posted in this area warning people of dangerous waters and mud flats.

The estuary runs southeast of the Anchorage area and runs parallel to the Seward Highway, the only highway that goes south and takes tourists from Anchorage to the Kenai Peninsula's athlete's paradise.

On the subject: Tourists annoyed the inhabitants of the town in Austria so much that they forbade them to take selfies and closed the beautiful views with a fence

The tragedy occurred at Turnagain Arm, an estuary 77 kilometers long. At low tide, the estuary is known for its dangerous shoals, made up of silt formed by glacier-crushed rocks. At least three more people have been stranded and drowned there over the years. Many others have been rescued, including a fisherman who fished there last month.

“She’s big, amazing, beautiful and stunning,” Christy Peterson, administrator and lead paramedic for the Hope-Sunrise Volunteer Fire Department, said of Alaska. “But you have to remember that this is Mother Nature, and she does not spare humanity.”

Lost time

Peterson was the first to receive the call asking for help.

“When we respond, we respond with the best intentions—as the people closest to us,” she said. “We are responding with as much passion and energy as we can.”

“I've reached out to everyone on the rescue team and they're all heartbroken,” Peterson said. “This is a difficult situation.”

The tragedy occurred near the village of Hope, which is home to about 80 people. It is 90 minutes from Anchorage.

At low tide, Turnagain Arm is known for its mudflats that "could suck you in," Peterson said. Peterson said they received a call for help from Porter. But mobilization takes time. Another department - about an hour away - also responded to the request.

Like the article? Support ForumDaily!?

Peterson urged people to call 911 as soon as possible.

“If you think there's a problem, if you think there might be a problem, call right away,” she said. “Because then we can help you faster and go home before it turns into a disaster.”

Other victims

Some people try to walk through the Turnagain Arm or walk the 14 kilometers from Anchorage to Fire Island at low tide, sometimes resulting in tragedy.

In 1988, newlyweds Adiana and Jay Dickison were digging for gold at the east end of Turnagain Arm when Adiana's ATV got stuck in the mud. She then got stuck herself trying to push her car out and drowned in the tide.

In 1978, an unnamed Air Force sergeant attempting to cross the Turnagain Arm was swept away by the leading edge of the tide. His body was never found. In 2013, Army Captain Joseph Eros died while trying to cross from Fire Island back to Anchorage.

You may be interested in: top New York news, stories of our immigrants, and helpful tips about life in the Big Apple - read it all on ForumDaily New Y.

Earlier this month, a man was rescued from the mud flats after one of his legs got stuck in a trap. It all happened while fishing at Turnagain Arm.

Read also on ForumDaily:

A driver with a Nazi flag rammed the fence of the White House: he was accused of trying to kill Biden and Harris

Great Journey: You can take a pole-to-pole cruise with stops on 5 continents

Florida woman drugged man and robbed him of $600

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.