A Norfolk lifeboat crew have been sharpening their skills when it comes to rescuing people trapped by mud.
Volunteers from Hunstanton RNLI use the station's hovercraft Hunstanton Flyer to get to those who get stuck in The Wash, because the nimble craft can fly across sand and mudbanks to reach them.
Rescuing someone who has become caught is a skilled and delicate procedure, in order to avoid injuring the casualty or a crew member sent out to free them becoming stuck.
But it may also need to be carried out quickly if the tide's coming in to save someone from drowning - meaning practise is needed to make a 'mud shout' second nature.
Over the last couple of weekends, the Hunstanton crew have been doing just that using a mannequin buried chest-deep on the beach near the station.
After carefully approaching the 'casualty' on the hovercraft, with the pilot positioning the craft a close as they can, the crew must first make the area around them safe to work in using mud mats, before assessing their injuries.
They then dig carefully down with shovels, before an air lance is used to free the casualty's legs and feet.
The 'hover also carries a stretcher in the event it is needed to bring an injured person on board the craft, whose crew includes a trained casualty carer, before they are flown to safety.
Hunstanton Lifeboat Operations Manager Mike Gould said the drills had gone well.
'Mud or unstable surface rescue is one of the many training activities we perform at Hunstanton due to our unique coastline exposing miles of mud and soft ground when the tide is out,' he added.
'These areas are only accessible by hovercraft which is why we're one of only four RNLI stations equipped with one.'
Like their colleagues at more than 200 RNLI stations around the coast of the UK and Ireland, the crew at Hunstanton train constantly to ensure they are ready to save lives at sea 24/7, 365 days a year.
While most had no maritime experience before joining the RNLI, the charity has structured training for all who go to sea, along with members of the shore crew and personnel such as plant drivers and launch authorities.
RNLI Picture captions
Pictures of mud rescue exercises over two successive weekends can be downloaded. Please credit: RNLI/Chris Bishop.
Notes to Editors
Hunstanton is one of the busiest lifeboat stations in Norfolk, whose volunteers operate the fast inshore lifeboat
Spirit of West Norfolk and the search and rescue hovercraft Hunstanton Flyer.
They cover The Wash, a tidal estuary stretching for more than 100 square miles fed by five main rivers, along with parts of the north Norfolk coastline.
Like more than 230 RNLI stations around the coast of the UK and Ireland, its lifesaving work is funded entirely by the generosity of those who donate towards the charity that saves lives at sea.
RNLI Media Contacts
For more information call Chris Bishop, Hunstanton RNLI volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer on 07584 147219 or Clare Hopps, RNLI Regional Communications Manager, North and East on 07824 518641 or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.
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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.
