A man in his eighties was rescued from the mud and the rising tide on Winchelsea Beach on Friday, August 23. He was stuck on all fours with the water just inches from his face before being brought to safety by two men waiting for the emergency services to arrive.
One of the man's rescuers was Andy Bantock from Rye. He was walking on the beach with his wife Gale and whippet Tilly when he saw a group of people looking in the same direction. "We could see the elderly man stuck in the muddy sand being assisted by another man. It was obvious he was having difficulty getting the gent up and his predicament was a bit alarming. He was stuck on all fours and the tide was advancing quickly with his face only inches from the water."
The coastguard had already been called and had advised that nobody else should join the rescue. "It was looking potentially life threatening so I went in anyway. With the help of Sean, who was also trying to get him out of the mud, we managed to get him more upright. He sank a bit deeper because all his weight was on his feet but we soon had him onto his back and were able to float him onto firmer sand."
Following his rescue the man was looked after by the coastguard. Andy Bantock says it was a dangerous situation but he was happy to help. "As a regular walker on Winchelsea Beach I know how easy it is to get into difficulty in the mud and soft sand. I knew if I didn't get involved, things could have ended very differently. Be careful folks."
HM Coastguard - mud and quicksand safety tips:
- Check the weather forecast and tide times before you leave home.
- Look out for and follow the advice on warning signs.
- Avoid crossing estuaries and walking through mud where there can be hidden channels of fast-flowing water.
- If you do get trapped, sit back to spread your weight evenly across the surface.
- Stop others from trying to help you, as they might get stuck too.
- If you get stuck, call 999 immediately and ask for the coastguard.
