Rescuers Retrieve Hiker Trapped Hours In Quicksand At Utah's Zion National Park

After having his leg trapped in quicksand and spending the night in freezing conditions, a hiker was rescued Sunday by first responders at Zion National Park in Utah.

Ryan Osmun, 34, was spending a weekend hiking trip with his girlfriend, Jessica McNeil, when he stepped in quicksand and found himself unable to move. The pair had been walking along a path commonly known as "The Subway route" and were a three-hour trek away from the trail's starting point.

"His leg was buried up to his knee and he was unable to free himself," Zion National Park officials said in a press statement.

After failed attempts to free Osmun, the couple decided McNeil should seek help, leaving him with "warm gear and clothing," as she trekked back. She dialed 9-1-1 after eventually gaining cellphone reception.

Members of the Zion Search and Rescue team immediately sought to locate both hikers, with McNeil found first and treated for symptoms of hypothermia.

Osmun was located hours later, when rescuers reportedly found him suffering from "exposure, hypothermia, and extremity injuries." Responders immediately set to work on releasing his leg from the pull of the quicksand, which took approximately two hours.

Unable to transport Osmun on their own, Osmun and rescue party members were forced to spend the night at the scene in "frigid conditions," enduring an additional four inches of snowfall.

A helicopter dispatched by Utah's Department of Public Safety found them the next day, airlifting Osmun and his rescuers from the site to an ambulance, which later transported him to the closest hospital.

According to the National Park Service, there have only been 32 casualties at Zion National Park since its opening in 1919. The park has an area of 229 square miles.

A 13-year-old girl fell to her death in February 2018 near Angel's Landing, a popular scenic point.