Two people have been rescued after getting stuck in mud on Burnham-On-Sea beach on Wednesday afternoon (February 28th).
Coastguards and BARB crews were called out at 2.15pm after a mother and a young boy became stuck in thick mud besides the town jetty with an incoming tide nearby.
RNLI crewmember David Whatley had raised the alarm after spotting them in difficulty.
A Burnham Coastguard spokesman said: “We arrived on station and some members of BARB who were also tasked informed us of the persons location and the immediate and increasing danger they were in.”
“In quick time two Coastguard mud techs kitted up and the team set up the rescue stretchers and equipment that we pull.”
“BARB were setting up their walking platforms in case the plan changed. In a dynamic situation like this it is always best to have multiple plans in action.”
“Moving swiftly, the two techs plucked the young child from the mud and moved them to safety, and the mum who was trapped up to her knees in some pretty sticky mud was then extracted by a little digging around her feet and then leveraged free.”
“The tide was just a few feet away at this point and BARB’s members were in full water rescue equipment and were on standby giving safety cover.”
“Once freed, the pair were taken back to the Coastguard station where they were warmed up and awaited an Ambulance to ensure they were OK.”
“They were just a few steps from safe ground and were shocked about how quickly the ground changed, how stuck they had become and also how fast it had sapped their energy.”
“Not having visited our beach before they didn’t know that it was so changeable and the fast incoming tide really frightened them.”
“A real reflection of how beach safety is important whichever beach you visit. These guys got caught out in an instance and we would like to express that it was a a lucky escape, something the emotional and very grateful family recognised.”
“The whole job was over in a matter of minutes which then left us with a freezing cold clean down. This proved more challenging than the rescue, as fast as we could wash the equipment it froze.”
“As always our advice is, if the tide is out do not follow it out past the hard sand.
If you do get stuck try and spread your weight and call for assistance, do not let others try and rescue you as they could become stuck too.”
“If you or someone else can, Dial 999 and ask for the Coastguards. A great multi-agency job and as always a great pleasure to work with BARB and Ambulance.”
The family were freed from the mud and safely brought back to the hard sand where they were checked over by an ambulance crew. BARB had a team set up with mud rescue paths and drysuits.
The Bayview Cafe also helped by taking several of the family inside the cafe for warmth and giving them hot drinks whilst the rescue of the mother and other child was taking place.
Pictured: The dramatic rescue underway (Photos: David J Whatley)
