CREWS from Burnham-on-Sea's BARB Hovercraft Team and Burnham Coastguard teamed up for a joint pre-season training session on mud rescues. 

The teams met on Berrow Beach at 9am on April 23 and the teams ran through a safety briefing. 

A spokesman for Burnham Coastguard, said: "Every year, just before the busy Summer season begins, Burnham Coastguard and BARB Hovercraft Team have a pre-season training session.

"This is to get us and them up to speed and ensures when the time comes we are at the peak of efficiency.

"We established roles among the team and different scenarios, four mud techs were set up, two of them acted as the casualties, while the other two were the rescuers and roles were swapped later.

"It was a challenging day for some, dealing with a hostile casualty and also with an unconscious casualty.

"We also threw in some twists for the BARB team to keep them on their toes, who dealt with each problem in a professional and skilled manner.

"One of our mud techs who is newly qualified was introduced to pulling a rescue stretcher in deep mud over a longer distance.

"This is very draining on all techs and the best way to learn a technique that suits you is to get out there and practice.

"After a couple more standard recoveries we headed back for a debrief and a huge amount of cleaning down."

Burnham Coastguard says that mud rescues are the most specialised type of rescue they do. 

The crew wear specialist mud shoes and protective suits which become heavy when they are drenched in mud. 

The spokesman added: "The Burnham Coastguard teams done amazing and we are pleased to say that we are ready for the oncoming holiday season.

"If you become trapped in mud, do not panic, sit down and spread your weight, if you have a phone, call 999 and ask for the Coastguards, or attract attention by shouting and waving."

If you ever get into trouble at sea call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.