ELDERLY MAN GETS STUCK IN SOFT SAND AFTER SHORT STROLL IN MORECAMBE
An elderly man with a walking aid was rescued from soft
sand just 50 metres off the prom in Morecambe today after he sank up to his
knees.
At just before 11.30 this morning Liverpool Maritime
Rescue Coordination Centre received a 999 call from a member of the public. He
told the coastguard about the elderly gentleman’s predicament. The specialist
coastguard mud rescue teams from Morecambe and Knott End were immediately sent
to the scene with the RNLI hovercraft based in Morecambe and the Lancashire
Fire and Rescue Service mud team.
The elderly man was extracted from the soft sand by the
coastguard rescue teams and fire and rescue service. He was brought ashore by
the RNLI hovercraft before receiving medical attention and being taken to
hospital by the North West Ambulance Service.
Watch Manager Stuart Atkinson who coordinated today’s
rescue said:
“The winter storms have moved the sand around offshore.
This means that areas that were safe to walk are now areas of dangerous soft
sand.
“Please take care if you are out on the sands. If you
become stuck try to spread your weight as much as possible. If you have a
mobile phone call 999 and ask for the coastguard.”
-Ends-