[A]t 2.15 pm on Sunday 15 October 2017, Morecambe’s volunteer lifeboat crew were tasked by HM Coastguard to assist local Coastguard teams and the Fire Service who were attempting to free a 52-year-old woman who had become trapped ankle deep in mud, whilst walking her dog along the shore, in the Grosvenor area of Morecambe.
The inshore rescue hovercraft was launched within 10 minutes of the call and, on arrival at the scene 5 minutes later, were able to free the casualty within 3 minutes. The lady, who had been trapped for over 90 minutes, was suffering from cold and so was taken on board the hovercraft and wrapped in a blanket before being transported to the Central Drive slipway; in order to be transferred to an ambulance and taken to hospital.
Morecambe RNLI volunteer Deputy Launching Authority, Colin Midwinter, said: “Although, after being checked by a paramedic on board the hovercraft, the casualty was able to walk to the ambulance, she was suffering from cold and when someone has been trapped in the mud for so long there is a danger of further complication due to what is effectively a crush injury.
“Our crew is trained to deal with this and it is why it was important that she was taken to hospital for further assessment.”
