Skydiver’s first solo ends in ‘mud rescue’ from remote coastal marsh, NC cops say

A skydiver’s first solo jump became memorable for the wrong reasons when the jumper ended up in one of North Carolina’s notorious coastal marshes, according to searchers.

It happened Thursday, Oct, 16, and video released by Town of Oak Island shows the ”mud rescue” followed the use of a drone to locate the skydiver.

“The town’s Public Safety departments responded to a rare call; a skydiver out of the Cape Fear Regional Jetport (SUT) overshot their landing area and ended up in the coastal marsh of the Intracoastal Waterway,” Oak Island officials said in an Oct. 17 news release.

“While this may seem like a ‘simple’ rescue, the reality is the marsh can be a very dangerous place. Between the suction of the mud, rising tides, and cooler temperatures, a fast response from well-trained groups working together as a team is critical.”

The skydiver landed without injury and was able to signal a search drone. A boat was dispatched, and the skydiver was ferried to solid ground within 30 minutes, officials said.

The identity of the skydiver was not released, but searchers praised the person “for remaining calm and evaluating their surroundings.”

Among the greatest dangers faced in coastal marshes is sinking. Salt marshes are typically composed of “pluff mud,” which can suck humans waist deep and keep them trapped, experts say.

Oak Island is about a 160-mile drive southeast from Raleigh.