Warning after woman trapped by ‘deadly’ tides

Michael Masterson, 46, of Grange Road, Fleetwood, was digging for bait near to the boating lake last Thursday morning, at around 9.30am, when he spotted a woman with three dogs out on the beach, as the tide was coming in.

Unknown to Mr Masterson, a member of the public realised she was in difficulties and phoned the Coastguard.

Fearing she might be in trouble, Mr Masterson waded out and told her the way to get back to safety, while helping to bring her dogs in, with the smallest under his arm. The Coastguards then arrived but the woman was already safe.

Mr Masterson said: “I am often out there digging for bait and after a while you get to know the tides. It’s pretty deadly out there because the tide is not straight, its affected by both the sea and the River Wyre, so it can catch people out and there’s a lot of sticky mud. Fortunately the woman and all of her dogs managed to get in safely, just as the Coastguard came.”

Mr Masterson did not know the dog walker, who thanked him for helping her.

A spokesman for the Coastguard said: “We received a 999 call telling us that a woman was a long way out and the tide was rising.

“We maintained visible observation with the lady while she made her own way back to safety with her dogs.”