Water levels are low at present in the numerous lakes and rivers that make our very own Jiangsu known as “The Water Province”. As a result, many usually-unexposed sands and mud flats can look like a fun distraction. But they can be deadly.
Locals know this of course, but tourists don’t. It was therefore this Monday, 10 October, that five visitors to Nantong City in Jiangsu found themselves in real trouble.
They had wandered out onto a local beach along the Yangtze River. But with Nantong only about 70 kilometres inland from the East China Sea at Shanghai, the River there is highly tidal.
The problem with quicksand is it appears solid, but in fact it is more of a gel. Technically a non-Newtonian fluid, stepping on quicksand initially lowers its viscosity, meaning a person will start to sink into it.
This is exactly what happened to the five tourists in Nantong. Having received their call, first responders arrived on the scene to find the tourists trapped in the quicksand some distance away from shore and the incoming tide beyond.
In a report published by The Paper, local police station instructor, Lu Jian, explained the emergency services’ actions. To avoid becoming stuck themselves, rescue workers crawled out to the stranded tourists. By attaching ropes to them, officers on the river bank were able to pull all five out to safety.
The ropes had quite literally become their lifeline.
The Nanjinger advises any reader who becomes stuck in quicksand to not just try to pull their feet out. This can require the same force as that needed to lift a car. In fact it will just make things worse.
Instead, the trick is to make yourself lighter. Sit down and lie back. Your increased surface area in contact with the sand reduces pressure, while you should also be able at this point to wriggle your feet free. Remaining lying, you can then slither, snake style, back to safety. Or, simply taking your shoes off can be a more-simple, less-messy solution.
Above all, don’t panic. Given the density of quicksand averages 2 grams per millilitre and the average human about 1 gram per millilitre, unlike in the movies, you will only ever sink in waist deep.
