Stranded Family Rescued from Sticky Mud Flats in Langstone Harbour!
Portsmouth Lifeboat crew faced a gritty rescue mission after two adults and a child got stuck on mud flats following an evening kayaking trip in Langstone harbour on Wednesday, 31st May 2017.
With the tide cut-off leaving the family stranded, the lifeboat couldn’t reach them. So, brave volunteers waded through the treacherous sticky mud to reach the weary trio.
Cold Child Hauling Rescue Using Kayaks
The child was quickly getting cold, so the lifeboat team used the stranded kayaks as makeshift sleds, manually dragging the family safely back to shore where a coastguard unit was waiting. Luckily, no one was hurt.
RNLI spokesman Aaron Gent explained: “A group of four headed out kayaking in the harbour but were caught by the fast-receding tide. A mother and her nine-year-old child were in one kayak, her brother in another, with a friend in a third. When the sea pulled away, they were stuck on a mudbank.”
“It was late and the child was getting chilly — very distressing for them,” he added. “The woman’s brother managed to trek ashore through the awful sticky mud to find help. Luckily, it was a training night and staff were already onsite.”
Coastguard Warns: Mud and Quicksand Can Be Deadly
The UK Coastguard has issued serious warnings following the incident. Soft ground such as mud and quicksand can trap anyone — often without warning.
The advice is clear:
- Stay calm and don’t struggle.
- Spread your weight as much as possible.
- Avoid moving to prevent sinking deeper.
- Call 999 and ask specifically for the Coastguard.
- Don’t let untrained rescuers attempt a rescue — they could get stuck too.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency points out much of the UK coastline is low-lying, tidal, and made up of soft ground like mud and quicksand — dangerous for anyone unprepared.
How Mud and Quicksand Trap Victims
Quicksand can hide beneath seemingly firm sand — with little warning, victims can suddenly sink. Tides constantly shift these areas, meaning positions change every time the water comes in and out.
People either sink into soft ground that immobilises their movement or fall through a crust into a soft mud or quicksand bubble. Struggling only makes it worse by creating suction around the legs.
The Coastguard recommends sitting down to spread your weight if trapped, helping prevent sinking further while waiting for help.
Remember, exhaustion and rising tides add to the risk. Navigating soft mud or quicksand without proper equipment is perilous.
Stay safe, stay smart, and always heed coastguard advice when near mud flats and tidal waters.
