Firefighters Rescue Woman Stuck In Mud In Plymouth

PLYMOUTH (CBS) -- PLYMOUTH (CBS) - It was the lure of nature that brought a group to Ellisville Harbor State Park in Plymouth.

But when they thought they could take a shortcut through a marsh on their nature walk one of them ended up to her armpits in mud and sinking fast. "The more she struggled the deeper she sank. She was pretty deep in the mud," said witness Kristy McIvor.

She was stuck in the consistency of quick sand. A nearby detail officer working with a tree cutting crew heard the cries for help. That's when firefighters arrived with ladders at the ready.

"They extended the ladder like they would for a fire. Then they lowered it across the marsh. There's no water at low tide so there was no way out to get her," said McIvor.

It would take six ladders pieced together like a bridge when the ladder truck was fifteen feet short so she could gingerly crawl across to get to the bucket. But first they had to dig.

"They were able to dig her out with a shovel. I think she worked on getting the first leg free and it was easier to pull her back towards the ladder," said firefighter Matt DeMaio.

Firefighters say she was calm but particular. "She was nervous. You could tell she felt better with people out there to help her. She was nervous about keeping her hat clean," said DeMaio.