Illinois Man Drowns After Getting Stuck in Alaska Mud Flats.

A 20-year-old man from Illinois drowned on Sunday evening after becoming stuck in the mud flats near Hope, Alaska. Despite efforts from his friends and rescue crews, the incoming tide submerged him just before 6:45 p.m. The Girdwood Fire Department generally responds to two or three mud rescues each year, using a specialized tool that blasts high pressure water or air into the mud to break it up so rescuers can free the trapped person. Mud rescues require a significant amount of manpower, as the mud can be unpredictable and safe spots for standing can change.