Dramatic rescue for two teenagers trapped in mud as water rises

Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service (GAFIRS) joined Cowes RNLI and other emergency crews to a land, sea and air rescue effort on Sunday evening.

An RNLI statement said: “In fast fading light the teenagers, a girl aged 15 and a boy, 16, became stuck in cloying mud at Thorness. After launching at 5.20 pm Cowes lifeboat found the youngsters immobile in very cold water up to their knees, which was slowly rising towards their waists.

“Isle of Wight firemen, Ventnor and Needles coastguards, an ambulance and – just in case it was needed – a coastguard helicopter from Lydd, Kent, also joined the  operation. The girl was the first to be extracted, followed sometime later by the youth. Each was carried to the shore by stretcher and provided with very welcome blankets.”

Cowes lifeboat returned to station at 8.50pm where the crew set to work with high pressure hoses to rid the craft and their kits of ever-present Thorness mud.