Two vacationers had to be pulled from a sealed-off salt pan by firefighters after they allegedly ignored warning signs and barriers at a protected nature reserve in Sardinia, and now face fines from Italian forestry police.
The pair waded into a restricted basin at Molentargius-Saline Natural Park, near Poetto Beach on the Italian island, hoping to snap photos of flamingos. Within moments, what looked like solid ground gave way beneath them, and both sank waist-deep into treacherous sediment they could not escape on their own.
Bystanders raised the alarm. Firefighters, local police, and ambulances all responded to the salt pan beside Viale Colombo, a road leading toward the popular beach. Rescuers laid down ladders across the unstable surface and used rope to haul the tourists free, careful not to become trapped themselves. Once out, both were hosed down at the scene. Neither was injured.
Park officials said the area was clearly marked as off-limits. Access to the basin was "strictly forbidden" and posted with visible signs, The Sun reported. Local reports indicated the tourists climbed over physical barriers to reach the flamingo habitat.
Marianna Mossa, the park's director, issued a blunt statement after the rescue. She did not mince words about the danger the pair had walked into, or the rules they had broken.
"What happened this morning also shows that respecting the restrictions is vital for people's safety. The basins are not accessible or walkable. The surface of the sediment can look stable, but it hides extremely treacherous conditions."
That description matches what rescuers encountered. The top layer of the salt pan appeared firm enough to walk on, but wet sediment lurked underneath. Once the tourists broke through, they had no way to free themselves without professional help.
Park bosses added that the restricted zones exist to protect both the public and the reserve's wildlife.
"Molentargius is a protected area, and the restrictions are there to stop people harming birds and the park's delicate ecosystem. Breaking the rules is subject to sanctions, including a significant amount."
Local police opened proceedings related to the incident. Forestry police are expected to hand down a fine, though officials did not disclose the exact amount, describing it only as "significant." The tourists' names and nationalities have not been released.
Britain's HM Coastguard, which publishes general safety guidance on mud and quicksand hazards, advises anyone who becomes stuck to spread their weight to slow sinking, to stop others from wading in after them, and to call emergency services immediately. The agency warns that mud and quicksand "can be extremely dangerous and difficult to get out of without the hand of a trained rescuer."
Molentargius-Saline Natural Park is a designated protected area, home to flamingos and other wildlife that depend on the salt-pan ecosystem. The sealed-off basins are not tourist attractions with walkways. They are fragile, hazardous terrain fenced off for reasons that two vacationers learned the hard way.
No photograph of a flamingo is worth a rescue operation, a police report, and a stiff fine. Rules posted in plain sight are not suggestions, and barriers are not invitations to climb over them.
