This could save your life!

[BC1969]

Was thinking about something that almost happened to me a long time ago in Alabama.
If you happen to be searching a old homesite, be it standing or just a pile of rocks, do yourself a huge favor and do NOT walk across a old pile of boards laying on the ground, sure it may just be an innocent pile laying there, covered in leaves and weeds, or it very well may be covering a old well!.
Like I said, you could lose your life, especially if you are hunting alone.
I was searching the area around a old homesite, it just looked like a pile of old rotting boards, one step later and crunch...I was flat on my back, with one leg magically in an unseen hole.
Well I got up and realized what had just happened, and grabbed a nearby rock and dropped it in the hole, about 3 seconds later I heard a splash..
I just felt the need to share this experience, since it could have been my last.

 

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[OldJerseyGirl]

I have always had a fear of that. Sometimes the boards are covered with leaves. Scary!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[AC1955]

Thanks for the safety reminder. Glad you weren't hurt.

Anita

 

[luvsdux]

Good that you came out of that uninjured. I almost stepped into a similar hole that turned out to be on open septic tank full of ugggh.
luvsdux

 

[BC1969]

Eww, I think I would rather fall down a well versus falling into a septic tank lol.

Mike

 

[bzbadger]

I think there was a post a few months back from someone who actually stepped into a well and she came close to going all the way through but luckily caught herself but was like chest deep. She managed to pull herself out and was very lucky because she said she was alone, hate to see something like this happening to anyone. Good thing to point out

 

[RobRieman]

Found this one the other day.

 

[Steve Ia]

Old home sites and towns usually had wells. These days many will not be covered up at all. Many are hidden by weeds and brush. A few years ago around here a lady went missing while blackberry hunting. A few weeks later she was found dead in a cistern. Can you imagine falling into a hole you can't get out of and never getting rescued? Surely something all relic hunters should keep and eye out for.

 

[Rich in Texas]

I went through one about 10 years ago. It was covered by a sheet of metal (which was rusted) and had dirt over that. I went straight through with my detector on my right arm. I slammed the detector down on the side and prevented myself from falling to the bottom. I was alone in a remote area. Scared the crap out of me. So I agree totally with the OP. Be careful out there!!!

 

[doc-d]

Excellent point made...........last year I walked on top of a cement top, covering the septic system and it collapsed in and thank God, I was able to catch myself on th edge.........so we need to be careful, very careful......

 

[BC1969]

Talked to a family member the other day and he had this happen, lucky for him it was mostly filled in, got a twisted ankle out of it. Made me think of this so I figured I would relate this here and in turn bump it, very useful knowledge.

Mike

 

[FLauthor]

Food for thought, never hunt alone. Carry a whistle in your pocket so you don't yell yourself horse maybe even a dog whistle if dogs are in area. Even a GPS Spot: SPOT SATELLITE MESSENGER :: HOME PAGE. True you are in a hole but The Spot is a Satellite Device and there are lots of Satellites passing overhead and The SPOT 911 (SPOT SATELLITE MESSENGER :: HOME PAGE) sends out your position. I've come across those holes and one reason I never hunt alone.

 

[BigWaveDave]

I tell you that I am more afraid of rattlesnakes than holes here in SWFL, I guess it all depends on where you detect. I guess sharks are scary too, gators, bad people..geesh, I could talk myself outta this hobby if I tried.

 

[texasred777]

Quite a few years ago (in the late 1940s or early 1950s), some boys were playing ball in a vacant lot close to where I lived. The boys in the neighborhood had played in the lot for years. It was actually about 6 city lots that had no buildings on them. A cow was 'staked' and grazing a few yards from where the boys were playing. They heard a lot bellow from the cow and saw only the upper half of the cow. The cow had stepped into an old well that had not been filled properly. The boys alerted some of the neighbors who pulled the cow out. I guess the weight of the cow was enough to make the soil sink. Possibly the boys were lucky that they were lighter in weight.

 

[christo000]

All posts Very true you, although this hobby can be Very fun it can be dangerous aswell Wells are my fear I usually always pack a whats needed just incase when venturing out into unfamiliar territory, space blanket,charged phone,waterproof firestarter,water,food, a .38 or a 380 you just never know safe then sorry

 

[Sharryn]

Thanks for the "heads-up"! I'm new to detecting but I also geocache so it's good to read posts like this to pass along to others as well as others in different outdoor activities. Kudos to you OP!

 

[Newfiehunter]

Those are the times when detecting alone with no one around for miles can be dangerous. That wouldn't be a very good way to die, in a well, miles away from anyone, screaming for help! Don't mean to sound morbid...

 

[xrunndonex]

Thors is why you always tell someone where you are going and if they don't see or hear from you the next day they go find help.

 

[Showtime2385]

I will definitely look more carefully for that

 

[Capt Nat]

If you do wind up in the bottom of a well, make sure you check the bottom well before you get rescued. There's no telling what coins/treasure might have been tossed in there for good luck!