Water Incident Unit from Heywood helped rescue boys from sinking mud

Firefighters rescue two children from mud

Two children had to be rescued from being waist deep in mud by firefighters, including Water Incident Unit from Heywood, on Sunday afternoon.

The two young boys had been playing on a recently dug unstable mound of soil at around 15:43 on February 18 when they became stuck and began to slowly sink.

Crews from Whitefield and Broughton along with the Water Incident Unit from Heywood and the Technical Response Unit and Major Rescue Unit from Ashton-Under-Lyne found the boys waist deep in the mud, on Park Lane, Whitefield.

Station Manager Paul Fearnhead who took charge of the rescue said: “The boys had climbed on soil that had recently been moved and made unstable by a digger.

“We would advise people, especially in these wet conditions, to avoid building and work sites or any areas that have recently had industrial work. There are lots of unforeseen dangers to consider.”

Firefighters rescued the boys using specialist personal protection equipment, the mud lance from the Water Incident Unit, short extension ladders and trench boards.

Both boys were rescued safely.