FLINTSHIRE rescue teams launched a late night rescue mission after two people became stuck in mud near the River Dee.

Flint Coastguard Rescue Team along with the Wirral team, along with the Flint Lifeboat crew and North Wales Police, attended the embankment opposite Connah's Quay docks las night (Sunday, August 9) after a 999 call from a man stuck in the mud.

The Leader:

Rescue on embankment. Images: Flint CRT

He told the call centre a woman was also stuck in the mud on the embankment near the Tata Steel plant.

A spokesperson for Flint Coastguard Rescue Team (CRT) said: "Flint CRT on scene at TATA steelworks and after a search managed to locate both casualties some distance out sat on the edge of a grass embankment close to the River Dee.

"As darkness was setting in, four CRO's made their way towards the casualties whilst safely navigating overgrown grass embankments and hidden gutters and gullies. Once on scene with both it was established that the male had been stuck in the mud for up to a hour but had managed to self extricate and the female had become stuck for a short period of time before managing to free herself. However the male had a injury to his ankle. First aid given."

The Leader:

Rescue on embankment. Images: Flint CRT

Although the male and female had got themselves out of the mud, they were stranded on the embankment and the lifeboat crew had to take mud rescue specialists to assist them.

The Leader:

Rescue on embankment. Images: Flint CRT

The Flint CRT spokesperson added: "By this time members from Wirral CRT had arrived on scene and with their mud rescue capabilities both teams had a discussion on how best to get both to a place of safety. A rescue and extraction plan was put in place, and due to the dangerous terrain it was not a option to stretcher carry both back through the overgrown grass embankment with the darkness now set in.

"Flint RNLI Lifeboat Station requested to launch and it was agreed that two coastguard specialist mud rescue technicians take both casualties on the rescue sled back across the mud to the waters edge where Flint ILB would rendezvous and assist in transporting both back across the river to Connah's Quay Docks. Once casualties landed safely, both mud technicians and equipment also transferred across by the lifeboat.

The Leader:

Rescue on embankment. Images: Flint CRT

Both casualties were then then handed over to the care Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust before all on the teams were stood down.