People are being urged to take extra care when enjoying our coastline following two separate mud rescue incidents on Sunday (24 March).
The Fire Service, Coastguard and RNLI are often called out to rescue members of the public who have become stuck in mud near to our coastline or rivers.
Last weekend there were two separate incidents where dog walkers needed rescuing from the mud in Whitecliff Bay, Isle of Wight.
It is likely that more people will be out enjoying coastal walks during the Easter holidays and it is important that they stay alert to the terrain they are walking on and know how to stay safe.
HIWFRS Station Manager Ant Westbrook attended both the recent mud rescues, he said:
"Following the recent rescues on the Isle of Wight at the weekend we would highlight the need for people to be cautious when exploring our coastline.
"The ground is extremely muddy in places and it can be difficult to judge how stable the surface is or just how deep the mud is.
"We urge people to take extra care while enjoying our coastline, to stick to the paths, follow any local warnings and ensure you have a mobile phone with you.”
Senior Coastal Operations Officer Andrew Woodford added:
“Getting stuck in the mud is an awful situation to be in and there are ways it can be avoided – check the weather, stick to the paths, check the tide times and always look at local safety signage.
“We are always ready to respond to incidents but it is just as important to be prepared in the first place.”
We ask that before you venture out, make sure that you are aware of our guidance on how to stay safe:
- Always follow local warning signs
- Don’t go out alone into unknown areas
- Be aware of tide times and currents
- Take a mobile phone with you
- Stay on footpaths and keep dogs under control
- If you do get caught out or come across someone stuck in mud – call 999 and ask for Coastguard – don’t enter the mud to help them
If you do find yourself in danger:
- Try to stay calm and avoid movement
- Spread your weight to stand evenly
- Call loudly to attract attention
- Call 999
- And discourage others from attempting to rescue you
Incident information:
Incident on at 10am Sunday 25 March
Fire Crews from Shanklin, Newport and Ryde worked alongside other emergency service partners after a woman was stuck waist-deep in the mud along with her pet dog.
Wearing water rescue suits firefighters used portable rescue platforms, known as mud paths, to create a stable surface to reach the casualty.
Firefighters left the scene and returned to station at around 1:30pm, after cleaning up their equipment.
Incident two at 2:30pm Sunday 24 March
Newport and Ryde firefighters assisted the Coastguard with a mud rescue after another person found themselves stuck while on a dog walk at Whitecliff Bay.
One female and her dog were rescued by the Coastguard and handed into the care of paramedics.
Crews return to station following the stop message at 4pm
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