Posted on 09/05/2006 11:33:53 AM PDT by dukeman
ORLANDO -- A jogger missing for four days was found stuck in a waist-deep swamp near the University of Central Florida.
Eddie Meadows was forced to drink swamp water to keep hydrated during the four day ordeal. The 62-year-old left to run at lunchtime Thursday but never returned to his office at a nearby university research park, authorities said. A UCF police dog found Meadows parched and covered with bug bites on Monday.
"He's a strong guy. He's in good shape. He's a marathoner," said UCF Sgt. Woody Furnas, who found the jogger. "He said he slept a lot and stayed down in the water. And he's been having to drink the swamp water."
Meadows was hospitalized at Florida Hospital East where he was reunited with his wife and two adult sons.
A hospital spokeswoman would not discuss Meadows' hospitalization but said his "condition is being assessed."
BS. Pure.
Lucky a crock did not find him.
I rarely end up waist-deep in a swamp. I'm not saying it's never happened to me -- but no more than 5 or 6 times.
Why was he "waist-deep" in a swamp in the first place? Was he practicing for a part in "The Return of The Swamp Thing"?......
How in hell did this man end up in a swamp while jogging?
OR, he ran off with his girlfriend for a few days and is now using this as an excuse. Who knows?
Somebody told him "I've got some swamp land you might be interested in" and he went to check it out?
Hmmm... any relation to the Kennedys? Who was left behind?
Eddie Meadows also came out of the swamp with a self-nomination for the Purple Heart for the bug bites he heroically sustained whilst cowering in the muck.
Something "smells" funny about this guy's story.
If he were out duck hunting, or catching frogs for supper perhaps it would make sense, joggling?, nope, don't buy that one.
They should be looking in that area for any missing college coeds, or hookers.
A quick drive around the perimeter of the UCF campus would show you how easy it would be. It's bordered on two sides by swamps. In fact much of Orlando is a swamp with just enough dirt to build on.
I noted that some newly constructed buildings had "ponds" beside them. A local advised that due to regulations re "wetlands" the builder had to recreate a watery area on the premises. They look like and probably are a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Would someone get Eddie a treadmill?
I'm just wondering how the guy got so far off course during a lunchtime jog? Of course, the son of an aquaintance of mine was somewhat drunk and apparently took a short cut through a swamp while walking and got mired down and died of exposure.
Thtat's not news, this weekend the whole UCF football team will be stuck in the swamp. ( gator growl )
The untold tragedy is that Meadows was actually horseback riding at the time...
Not according to Orlando TV stations.
A searcher heard a commotion in the swamp and thinking it was a fellow searcher, called out: "Are you looking for Eddie?" (the lost jogger).
A voice replied: "I'm Eddie!".
Local news never mentioned a dog. (Of course, it's the media. Not known for accuracy)
A few nights exposed to the mosquitos would be hard to fake. Show us what he looks like.
Good thing this is Florida, not Virginia.......otherwise I would have to start checking my property because at the moment a swamp is the only way to describe my place........
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.