Family of nine rescued from mudflats by helicopter and lifeboats

Published: May 31, 2010
Family of nine rescued from mudflats by helicopter and lifeboats

Burnham-On-Sea Coastguards helped to rescue a family of nine people stuck on mudflats at Uphill on Monday evening (May 31st).

A team of five Burnham Coastguards was called to the scene, near the north side of Brean Down, at 5.50pm after the group of three stranded adults and six children was spotted over half a mile from the beach, surrounded by thick mud with an incoming tide nearby.

The children, one of whom was only an infant, were suffering from exhaustion so the lifeboat beached itself alongside them and the crew assisted the worst affected casualties on board.

Here, they were given first aid, including space blankets to warm them up as they were starting to develop hypothermia.

An RAF helicopter from Chivenor in Devon, which was nearby at the time, managed to rescue five of the youngsters. A crewmember was lowered down to scoop lift from the mud.

And the remaining four - all of whom are from the West Midlands - were taken ashore by a Weston lifeboat.

"Two were suffering from the early effects of hypothermia and all nine were taken to hospital to be checked over," Burnham Coastguard officer Steve Bird told Burnham-On-Sea.com.

"They were covered in mud head to toe and could not have got back to the beach unaided."

"Without the prompt help of the helicopter and lifeboat, this incident could have ended very differently."

Burnham's Coastguard team worked closely alongside Weston Coastguards during the incident.

Weston RNLI Helmsman Liam McDermott added: "This is the most dangerous part of Weston Bay. It looks simple to cross but is impossible. If you are a local person and see anyone trying to cross here make sure you warn them of the dangers and call the emergency services if they get into difficulties."