A young South Australian woman is lucky to be alive after she became trapped in quicksand at her local beach. Madz June, 20, was enjoying a sunset walk at Glenelg Beach in Adelaide when she stepped off some rocks onto the sand and began sinking. Initially laughing it off, she soon realized the seriousness as the tide rose and she could not free her leg.
Trapped and Terrified
Madz told news.com.au that she went for a walk with a friend, expecting only to take photos of the sunset. When she stepped onto the sand, her leg sank straight down. She tried to pull it out but could not. Her leg felt stuck in concrete or a vacuum-sealed bag. She had to call emergency services, who initially thought she meant her car was stuck and suggested roadside assistance.
Rescue Operation
About 40 minutes later, four police officers and five firefighters arrived. By then, the sun had set and the tide was rising. They gave her a foil blanket because she was wearing shorts and a T-shirt in the cold. They dug around her leg and physically pulled her out. Madz described the experience as like something out of a movie.
She was scared the quicksand would swallow her whole, but the sinking was slow. Her main concern was the rising water and potential hypothermia. She is grateful the incident happened to her rather than an elderly person or child who might not have been able to call for help.
Raising Awareness
Madz is sharing her story to warn others about the dangers of quicksand. She has since spoken to another woman who got stuck in the same beach with her dog. Together, they want to raise awareness about unpredictable sand conditions. Madz says everyone should be cautious on coastal walks.
A spokesperson for the South Australian Department for Environment and Water explained that beach sand is collected from West Beach Harbour and placed at Glenelg North to protect coastal infrastructure from winter storms. Safety signage was erected at all beach access pathways before the work began in late April, and the public is urged to take care during stormy periods.
