Teenagers plucked from river mudbank

Aug 31 2007 by Deborah James, Liverpool Daily Post

TWO teenage boys were airlifted to safety last night after becoming stuck on a mudbank in the River Ribble.

The boys made a 999 call to Liverpool Coastguard at 5.20pm, saying they had taken a small inflatable dinghy from Freckleton Boatyard.

They had become stuck almost immediately after they had entered the River Ribble in Lancashire next to Warton Aerodrome. It is understood the boys were strongly advised by the boatyard keeper not to go out on the river as the tide was two hours into the ebb.

The boys were dressed only in T-shirts and shorts and had no lifesaving equipment of any sort.

Liverpool Coastguard immediately sent a rescue team from Lytham St Annes, who were on scene within 20 minutes.

Soon afterwards, a rescue helicopter from RAF Valley in North Wales was then scrambled.

Ian Jackson, a spokesperson for Liverpool Coastguard, said: “Whilst we are obviously pleased that the two boys were unharmed, we are equally very concerned that they chose to ignore the good advice of the people at the boatyard and ventured into a very fast flowing river completely unprepared in a craft that can best be described as a beach toy.

“Whilst HM Coastguard would never want to dissuade people from enjoying the beaches and rivers, we would urge them to take all necessary precautions before they do so.”