Latest news with #mudflats
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Woman rescued from beach says she feels 'pure shame'
A woman who was rescued by the RNLI after becoming stuck in sinking mud flats says she was blissfully unaware she was "in any sort of danger". Nineteen people were rescued by emergency services on the shoreline of Weston-super-Mare in north Somerset, on the hottest weekend of the year so far. Avon Fire and Rescue Service said it used its hovercraft and called on RNLI for support. Everyone was rescued safely and no injuries were reported. Tammy Facey, who was visiting the seaside from Birmingham, told the BBC: "It was the most confusing thing, we just had no awareness of the risks." The sinking mud appears on the shoreline at low tide, when fine sediment mixes with water to create a liquefied soil that loses its ability to support weight when disturbed. Ms Lacey and her nephew had been wading out to meet the tide in an attempt to cool down, but soon realised their efforts were futile. "It was up to my knees, up to my thighs," she said, describing the sand beneath them as a "muddy bog". "We were absolutely exhausted and very confused because we thought, 'why are there no [warning] signs?' "I just realised it would be too tiring for us to swim any further. I thought this is really stupid, we need help." She added that she felt "pure shame and horror" about having to rescued by the "kind volunteers", who risk their lives to save others. The Weston-super-Mare Lifeboats RNLI Facebook page shared another of the accounts from a person rescued. "We waded through thigh deep mud for an hour and half to reach the sea," they said. "We got to the sea and even though I was sinking, I was thrilled the tide was coming in as I thought I could cool down and swim. More news stories for Somerset Listen to the latest news for Somerset "I genuinely was not aware of the danger, it didn't even occur to me to call 999. I feel incredibly stupid. "I can't thank the RNLI enough. I think it's really important to raise awareness." In a statement, the RNLI at Weston-super-Mare said: "If you see anyone walking to the shoreline and towards the mud, please warn them of the dangers, you could save a life." Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Scores of beachgoers rescued from sinking mud Family rescued from 'sticky' beach mud RNLI Avon Fire and Rescue
BBC News
6 days ago
- Climate
- BBC News
Nineteen rescued from Weston-super-Mare beach mud on hottest weekend
Nineteen people stuck in dangerous beach mud flats at the weekend had to be rescued by emergency services, sparking a safety incidents took place on the shoreline at Weston-super-Mare in North Somerset, on the hottest weekend of the year so Fire and Rescue Service said it needed to use its hovercraft and called on RNLI support. The fire service said everyone was rescued safely and no injuries were a statement, the RNLI at Weston-super-Mare said: "If you see anyone walking to the shoreline and towards the mud, please warn them of the dangers, you could save a life." The RNLI's lifeboat crews were called to six mud flat rescues on Sunday. The mud appears on the shoreline at low Weston-super-Mare Lifeboats RNLI Facebook page shared one of the accounts from a person said: "We waded through thigh deep mud for an hour and half to reach the sea. I just wasn't aware the dangers of doing that. "We got to the sea and even though I was sinking I was thrilled the tide was coming in as I thought I could cool down and swim. "I genuinely was not aware of the danger, it didn't even occur to me to call 999. I feel incredibly stupid. "I can't thank the RNLI enough."I think it's really important to raise awareness."
