Teenager in terrifying ordeal rescued by RNLI lifeboat crew
A teenager was rescued by the Sheerness RNLI inshore lifeboat crew who used their bare hands to dig him out after he became stuck in deep mud.
The Sheerness RNLI inshore lifeboat ‘Buster’ launched at 7.04pm on Saturday 2 March 2019 after being tasked by the UK Coastguard to a person reported to be stuck in mud below the cliffs somewhere between Minster and Eastchurch.
Going on the information provided the lifeboat proceeded to the Eastchurch cliffs area and requested that the casualty, who had made the emergency call from a mobile phone, be asked to flash the torch on the phone.
The lifeboat was taken close inshore after spotting a light which unfortunately turned out to be a fisherman. Another light was soon noticed further West in the area of the cliffs below Bell Farm Lane.
Making best speed towards this light the casualty, a teenage boy, was located and found to be stuck up to his thighs in heavy mud.
With the tide on the flood and high water due at 10.00pm the decision was taken to leave one crew member on board the lifeboat whilst the other three crew members went ashore where they managed to successfully extract the youth by digging him out with their bare hands.
Having extracted the youth, who was very hypothermic, the crew wrapped him in a survival blanket and balaclava and carried him out to the lifeboat from where a request was made for an Ambulance to be sent to the slipway at Sheppey Yacht Club.
On arrival at the slipway the crew were met by the Sheppey Coastguard Rescue Team and using their stretcher the casualty was taken ashore to await the ambulance.
The ILB was released at 8.12pm and returned to the boathouse at 8.20pm. After a thorough clean of the boat and equipment it was ready for service again at 9.05pm.
Wind WSW force 4 gusting 5, visibility fair.
It is believed the youth had gone down the cliff path below Bell Farm Lane to walk along the beach to Sheerness when he became stuck in the mud and had been there for more than an hour before he was rescued by the lifeboat crew.
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Vic Booth RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer (Sheerness) 07926904453 / 01795 880544 .[email protected] / [email protected]
Oliver Wrynne-Simpson, Regional Media Officer. 07785 296 252
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