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Trapped dog walker rescued from mud by Cleethorpes RNLI

Lifeboats News Release

Cleethorpes RNLI were called to reports of a man stuck in mud near Wonderland in Cleethorpes on 6 July at 4:15pm after he was spotted by a passing police officer.

RNLI/Ben Carpenter

The scene at Cleethorpes as the rescue progressed

Arriving on scene, the volunteer crew found him in mud up to his knees, with the tide fast approaching. They freed his legs from the mud using their hands then handed him over to Coastguard volunteers who helped him back ashore.

The man was on a day trip to Cleethorpes with his dog, Sandy, who had become bogged down in the mud earlier. He went into the mud to rescue him but, while the dog was able to self rescue, he was trapped fast. This was a special dog walk for the family as Sandy has a brain tumour and is due to be put to sleep next week, so this was his last walk on his favourite beach.

Once safely ashore, the man was assessed by the Coastguard team and needed no further assistance.

The rescue was a multi-agency operation involving the RNLI, Coastguard, local authority beach rescue team and the Police.

Cleethorpes RNLI Launch Authority, Steve Austin, said: 'This area of the beach is particularly dangerous with patches of deep mud and a fast-incoming tide. Within half an hour of the rescue, water in that area was a metre deep.'

RNLI Media contacts

For more information, contact Cleethorpes RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer, Matt McNally on 07771-797556.

RNLI/Matt McNally

Lifeboat arriving on scene

RNLI/Matt McNally

Freeing the casualty's legs

RNLI/Matt McNally

Casualty being taken ashore by Coastguard

RNLI/Matt McNally

Volunteer crew being cleaned of mud after the rescue

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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 142,700 lives.

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