Lost in the Fog: The DeSoto Lake Mud Rescue

How Coordination and Patience Saved Three Men from a Shallow-Water Trap

When the Lake Disappears

Boating safety usually brings to mind life jackets and storm clouds, but sometimes the biggest threat is much quieter: a thick fog and a hidden mudbank. That’s exactly what three men faced on DeSoto Lake when their boat became hopelessly stuck in the silt.

With the fog rolling in, they couldn't see the shore—and more importantly, rescuers couldn't see them. The story of their safe return is a great reminder that inland lakes can be just as tricky as the ocean.

The Fog Factor

The biggest challenge that morning was "extremely limited visibility." When you can't see five feet in front of your bow, navigation becomes a guessing game.

The Lesson: Always have a backup for your eyes. A reliable GPS or even a simple compass can keep you from wandering into the shallows when the landmarks vanish. If you do get stuck, stay with the boat. These men did exactly that, making it much easier for the search teams to eventually find them.

The Shallow Water Trap

The water was a "no-man's-land"—too deep for the men to walk out, but too shallow for standard rescue boats to reach them. It took over an hour of trial and error before a private "mud boat" and specialized EOC vessels could get close enough.

The Lesson: Know your draft. If you’re heading into backwaters or aging lakes, you need to know how much water you really need to float. Carrying a simple push-pole can often save you from needing to call 911 in the first place.

Teamwork Wins

This rescue succeeded because multiple agencies—the Bolivar EOC, Coahoma Fire, and the Sheriff’s Office—worked together. They eventually stopped their boats a few hundred yards away and managed to "establish a line" to tow the stranded vessel back to the landing.

The Lesson: Have a tow line ready. You don't need a professional rig, but having a strong, dedicated line on board makes it much easier (and safer) for someone to pull you out of a jam.

By the time the sun came up, all three men were back on dry land, uninjured and safe. It’s a perfect example of how staying calm and having the right people on speed dial can turn a potentially dangerous night into a successful homecoming.

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