Police reveal race against time to rescue stuck pair
POLICE have described their race against time to rescue a man who was struggling to breathe and his young greatgranddaughter who was crying in fear when they got stuck in mud and sinking sand.
The 71-year-old man, his three-year-old greatgranddaughter and their dog all got stuck in thick mud in the North Dock area of Llanelli.
After they were spotted by a concerned member of the public, teams from HM Coastguard, fire crews and police all scrambled to the scene.
Once they arrived, emergency crews soon discovered that the man was unable to get himself and the child to safety, and the situation was quickly becoming urgent.
The man was at this point stuck on his back in the mud, with the three-year-old on his lap and the dog nearby.
As they were having difficulties in rescuing them, police made their way along a rocky outcrop with throwlines in the hope that they could pull the trio to safety. But the distance between those stranded and the police officers made this impossible and the surrounding sinking sand prevented officers from getting any closer.
“This was an urgent situation as the 71-yearold was stuck on his back on the mud, with the three-year-old on his lap and their dog
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This was an urgent situation as the 71-year-old was stuck on his back on the mud
Sergeant Ben Ashton
nearby,” said Sergeant Ben Ashton of DyfedPowys Police. “The little girl was crying and was clearly frightened. By this point, she was getting very cold, and the team was a considerable distance from their vehicles and first aid kits.
“PC Aled Davies showed great initiative in tying a foil blanket to a rope and throwing it across so the man could wrap it around his greatgranddaughter to keep her warm. He was also suffering and was struggling to breathe at times, making the rescue even more urgent.”
Police officers, PCSOs and a special constable were now at the beach and constant reassurance was offered to the man in an attempt to lessen the risk that he would panic, given the gravity of the situation, and therefore sink deeper and become even more stuck in the mud and sinking sand.
Thanks to specialist teams from Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service and HM Coastguard, the man, the little girl and the dog were all eventually winched back to a safe area of the beach, with Special Constable Rachel Thomas of Dyfed-Powys Police holding the little girl after she was moved on to the rocks as the rescue continued. She was then left in the care of her family while her great-grandfather was taken to hospital as a precaution following the incident on Wednesday, April 21.
Chief Inspector Stuart Bell of Dyfed-Powys Police said: “The officers, PCSOs and special constables who responded to this call showed exceptional teamwork in making their way swiftly to the man and his granddaughter, co-ordinating with partners to ensure a safe rescue, and supporting the family, who must have found this a harrowing event. Their hard work, efforts and ability to stay calm under pressure resulted in the best outcome, ensuring the safety of two people in distress.”