Following a dramatic rescue in Whitby Harbour where a woman became trapped in deep mud, the Whitby RNLI has issued vital safety advice to help coastal walkers stay safe.
The incident, which occurred last Wednesday required a swift and co-ordinated multi-agency response involving the Whitby Coastguard, North Yorkshire Police, and the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Lifeboat crews were the first to arrive at the scene due to the harbour boathouse’s close proximity. Rescuers utilised specialised digging equipment and wooden boards to carefully extract the casualty from the sludge. After the ordeal, the woman was taken to the RNLI station to warm up and change into dry clothing.
Reflecting on the operation, Whitby RNLI Coxswain Richard Dowson provided a detailed account of the event and the charity's official safety recommendations for the public.
"Recently, we rescued a casualty from the mud just behind where I'm sat here at Whitby. It's not something we see very often, but obviously somebody did get caught out that day, and we just like to give a bit of safety advice to stop it happening to others.
The advice from the RNLI on things like this is if you can retrace your steps from the path that you've taken, obviously, where you've come from is good, firm ground.
But if you do find yourself stuck in the mud, please try not to wriggle around, which will make the situation worse and potentially make you go deeper. Discourage others from trying to help you cuz chance are they're going to get stuck and dial 999. Ask for the coast guards. If it's land based, the coast guards will come to assist, but also obviously the RNLI could also come to help should that be needed."
The urgency of the rescue was underscored by the timing of the local tides. The casualty had become stuck at the low tide water line, meaning there was very little time available before the sea began to return and submerge the area.
Mr Dowson further emphasised the importance of preparation for anyone visiting the beaches near Whitby, Scarborough, or Bridlington:
"make sure people check the tide times when they're going out for walks on the beaches and areas. Uh the casualty the other day was stuck right on the water line at low tide. So there wasn't a lot of time before the tide started to come back in. Uh which made it essential that we got her out quickly. So just make sure people check tide times and kind of keep away from those areas right at the water's edge.
The Whitby Coastguard praised the woman’s composure, noting that she did exactly the right thing by remaining still and calling for help, which prevented her from sinking further. They warned that coastal terrain can be deceptive, as mud and soft ground around harbours and estuaries become "extremely dangerous" when softened by damp weather or frost.
While the Coastguard team in the town is a specialist cliff rescue unit, they highlighted that their integrated training with the RNLI allows them to support such incidents safely and effectively. Residents and visitors across the Yorkshire Coast, including those in Filey, Hornsea, and Driffield, are urged to remain mindful of changing tides and to always dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard if they see someone in distress.
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