A father and son were airlifted from a remote Everglades mudhole after their ATV ran out of gas, barefoot and surrounded by alligators, in a harrowing rescue that underscores the real dangers of underestimating America’s wild places.
Story Snapshot
- Father and son stranded in Big Cypress National Preserve after ATV ran out of fuel and became stuck in deep mud.
- Men were barefoot, without food or water, and reported hearing alligators nearby while awaiting rescue.
- Collier County Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit located them via thermal imaging and hoisted them to safety by helicopter.
- The dramatic nighttime rescue was captured on video and widely shared, highlighting the risks of off-road recreation in remote swamps.
- Authorities are using the incident to reinforce the importance of preparation, supplies, and communication when venturing into wilderness areas.
Stranded in the Swamp
On December 9, 2025, a father and son were riding an all-terrain vehicle deep inside the Big Cypress National Preserve in Southwest Florida when their ATV ran out of fuel and became stuck in a deep mud hole. With no way to free the vehicle and no backup supplies, the pair found themselves stranded in a remote, waterlogged swamp with no food, no water, and no shoes. One of the men lost a shoe in the mud, leaving both barefoot as night fell and temperatures dropped. They called 911, reporting they were cold, hungry, and hearing alligators moving nearby, with the father famously warning, “Alligators are hungry.”
High-Risk Nighttime Rescue
Collier County Sheriff’s Office responded by dispatching its Aviation Unit, which used thermal imaging and GPS coordinates from the 911 call to locate the men in the dark, trackless swamp. Deputies described the operation as “high octane,” noting the difficulty of finding and hoisting two individuals from a deep mud hole at night in a dense, alligator-infested environment. The helicopter crew successfully performed a hoist rescue, lifting both men to safety without serious injury. The dramatic video of the operation, released by law enforcement, shows the men being pulled from the muck and into the helicopter, a stark reminder of how quickly a recreational outing can turn life-threatening.
Big Cypress National Preserve, part of the larger Everglades ecosystem, is a federally protected wilderness of cypress swamps, sawgrass marshes, and wet prairies. The area is home to an estimated 1.3 million American alligators, which are generally not aggressive but can be dangerous, especially at night or when people are in or near water. The preserve’s soft, muddy terrain makes it easy for vehicles to become stuck, and its remoteness means self-rescue is nearly impossible without outside help. This incident follows a pattern of similar rescues in recent years, where off-road enthusiasts have underestimated the environment and required emergency extraction.
Lessons for Outdoor Enthusiasts
Search and rescue experts emphasize that incidents like this are preventable with proper preparation. They stress the importance of carrying the “Ten Essentials”: navigation, sun protection, insulation, illumination, first-aid, fire, repair kit, nutrition, hydration, and emergency shelter. For off-road trips into remote areas, that also means extra fuel, food, water, a reliable communication device (such as a satellite messenger), and appropriate footwear. Wildlife biologists and outdoor safety instructors caution that while alligators typically avoid humans, close encounters in swamps at night can be extremely dangerous, especially for barefoot, exhausted, and dehydrated individuals.
Barefoot father and son airlifted from Everglades mudhole after ATV runs out of gas: ‘Alligators are hungry’
Source – Fox News
— Prime View News (@primeviewnews) December 9, 2025
Public safety agencies like the National Park Service and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission have long warned about the risks of venturing into remote wetlands without adequate supplies and planning. This rescue is now being used as a cautionary tale to remind outdoor enthusiasts that America’s wild places demand respect, preparation, and common sense. As off-road recreation continues to grow in popularity, authorities are urging people to treat these environments not as playgrounds, but as serious wilderness where mistakes can quickly become emergencies.
Sources:
Naples News article (Dec 9, 2025)
