Rescued teenagers lucky to be alive

The youngsters were playing near Wyre Estuary Country Park in Stanah when they got stuck in mud on the River Wyre.

One of the youngsters, a 13-year-old girl, was able to free herself and call 999.

Emergency teams raced to the scene and managed to eventually free the remaining boy and girl, who were taken to hospital suffering from hypothermia, following the dramatic rescue at 8pm on Sunday.

Today, the mum of one of the children praised 999 heroes who saved her son – as crews urged others to stay away from the “perilous” mud banks.

Mum Kerry Byrom, whose son Sean, 14, was trapped up to his waist, said: “The emergency services did an amazing job.

“It was a very scary time, we’re just glad they are all OK. It could have been a lot worse.”

John Taylor, spokesman for the fire service, said: “There could have been a tragic outcome. We were searching for the trio in the expanse.

“They were visible but if the tide had been rising it would have been a race against time. The water could have gone over their heads and they could have drowned. The hazards are real.

“When these incidents happen, people tend to panic and start moving around which makes it worse, it’s very perilous and very dangerous.

“But crews were there quickly and got the job done and a crisis was averted.”

Fleetwood and Knott End coastguard teams were sent to the area, along with fire crews from Fleetwood and Bispham fire stations.

Sean became stuck with friend Alisha Hussein, also 14, a fellow pupil at Hodgson Academy in Poulton.

Amy Audsley, 13, raised the alarm after she managed to free herself from the mud.

Alisha’s dad Majid Hussein said: “To see the photos of how they were stuck, I feel they’re lucky to be alive.

“They’re very sorry for what happened, you’d think they’d know better at their age, but it’s sunk in for them.

“I don’t know how they rescued them, it took a lot of time and skill, it’s amazing.”

Mum Kim Williams, 36, said: “It was terrifying while we were waiting for news and I fell to pieces when I saw them, they were covered in mud, it was horrible.

“They did the right thing by calling 999. They had a very lucky escape.”

Ms Byrom said she hoped the episode would serve as a stark reminder for people to stay safe on shorelines.

She said: “Thanks to the speedy rescue from the coastguards they were just a little shocked and cold.

“I think the children have now learned the hard way not to play or go near places like that.”

A spokesman for Fleetwood Coastguard said: “We were paged to reports of two people stuck in mud in the River Wyre. We found two people waist deep in the mud and struggling.”

Specially trained technicians from the two coastguard teams used equipment to release the pair, who were suffering with hypothermia.

Knott End Coastguard posted on its Facebook page: “We were called at 8.20pm. A winch was set up for recovery and equipment to stretcher the casualties.”

A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: “We were called shortly before 8pm. Two of the children could be seen up to their waists in mud, one boy and one girl. We did attend but the coastguard carried out the rescue. Both casualties were out of the mud by 9pm and were winched to shore.”

A spokesman for North West Ambulance Service said: “Two ambulances were sent to the scene and the children were taken to hospital.”

The children were taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital, two suffering from the effects of hypothermia, the third suffering shock, and discharged later on Sunday night.