HM Coastguard Lytham update after multi-agency River Wyre search for person 'crawling' in mud

Lytham Coastguard joined a major multi-agency search on the River Wyre after a person was spotted crawling through the mud.

The Lytham team was tasked at 21:19 on Thursday to assist colleagues from HM Coastguard Fleetwood and Knott-End Coastguard Rescue Team with the search. The incident began at around 19:00, when the Fleetwood team was called after someone reported seeing someone crawling around in the mud.

The Fleetwood team located the casualty and began making their way towards them in their mud gear, but it soon became apparent that the person was much further away than initially thought. By the time Coastguard Rescue Officers had made progress towards the casualty, they had lost sight of them.

Knott End Coastguard Rescue Team was then brought in with its Argocat, but as darkness fell and the search area remained large, the Lytham team was called upon to help expand the search. RNLI Fleetwood was also in attendance, navigating the difficult river conditions.

Lytham Coastguard said: "The Fleetwood team had been out from around 19:00 after someone had called in seeing someone crawling around in the mud."

The team arrived at a rendezvous point separate from the Fleetwood team in order to cover a larger area. Police officers were standing by, the fire service had established powerful lighting and the ambulance service was also in attendance to provide after care.

As some of the Lytham Coastguard Rescue Officers began searching, they noticed something slightly glimmering nearby. Lytham Coastguard said: "Unsure if this had been an animal or our casualty, the team decided to investigate. On closer inspection, it was our casualty who was still crawling in the mud."

The casualty was retrieved to safety with assistance from police before being carried by Coastguard Rescue Officers to the waiting ambulance service. Lytham Coastguard said: "They were retrieved to safety with the assistance of the police, and then carried by our CROs to the waiting ambulance service."

Once the operation was complete, the three Coastguard teams met for a full debrief. Lytham Coastguard said: "We don't very often get to have all 3 teams in the same place at the same time so it was really lovely to see some colleagues that we don't get to see very often."

The incident saw Coastguard teams work alongside police, fire, ambulance and RNLI crews in challenging conditions on the river. Lytham Coastguard said: "This was a really great example of different community agencies coming together and working well to assist someone in need"