Emergency services are urging walkers to be aware of treacherous conditions on the coast after being called out twice in 2 days to people stuck in the mud at St Helens.
Chris Thearle, Station Manager for Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service, has urged particular caution due to the alternating dry and wet weather contributing to extremely muddy conditions amid what he described as ‘landslip season’.
He is reminding people to take extra care on the coast and to consider their actions, particularly in adverse weather. He also says that those considering walking between Priory Bay and The Duver should think twice before doing so, as it is particularly dangerous at this moment in time.
His comments have been echoed by volunteers from HM Coastguard and the RNLI, who lamented the lack of awareness of the currently hazardous nature of the Island’s coastal paths. The spate of incidents have cost the emergency services a huge amount of time and resources and might be potentially avoidable with greater public awareness of the dangers.
Today’s incident, in which 2 teenagers had to be rescued from the exact same remote location as yesterday, prompted another large multi-agency response from emergency services in wet and windy conditions.
In this instance, the casualties are thought to be local but there is also a concern that holidaymakers unfamiliar with the Island might get themselves into trouble and better signage might be one option to curb the current worrying trend.
It follows another incident on Saturday in the West Wight, as previously reported by Island Echo, in which a person was stuck up to their waist in mud before being freed.
Contact will be made with The National Trust, who own the land, in the hope that cordons or signage can be erected to alert walkers to the dangers.
