Lucky escape for children stuck in the mud

Four children had a lucky escape after they became stuck in the mud with the tide coming in, on the River Stour near Copperas Bay, yesterday evening (March 10).

We received a call at around 6.55pm and coastguard rescue teams from Felixstowe and Holbrook were sent, along with two RNLI lifeboats from Harwick and a coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Lydd. Essex Police, Essex Fire and Rescue and East of England Ambulance were also on scene.

Thankfully two children were able to get back to safety themselves and the other two were airlifted to safety by the helicopter.

All were passed into the care of the East of England Ambulance Service. If you become stuck in mud our advice is always the same: stay calm, try and spread your weight as much as possible and avoid moving.

Call 999 and ask for the Coastguard. Anybody trapped should also discourage other well-meaning members of the public from attempting to rescue them because without the proper equipment they could become stuck too.

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