A boy has been rescued from sinking mud while walking his dog on the Somerset coast.
The youngster was with his pet on Clevedon Pill when the animal ran into the mud.
The boy waded into the mud to help the dog – and became stuck.
He started to sink.
Concerned locals called 999 and rescue crews arrived.
Meanwhile, the dog had escaped and run off home.
Firefighters and coastguard crews worked to free the boy using specialist mud rescue equipment.
After being plucked to safety he was hosed down and wrapped warmly in blankets.
Barry Darbon, a Portishead Coastguard station officer, said:
“The boy was out walking his dog when it went onto the mud.
“He was only about 10 metres out on the mud when he became stuck.
“This incident just proves that even if mud looks solid, you never know whether there is an air pocket in the mud that could pop and trap you.
“People should understand that walking out on the mud can be very dangerous.”
