THIS is the moment a seven year-old boy was rescued after getting stuck in the mud on Brean beach. 

The youngster was enjoying a day out with his family on Sunday (December 9) when he became stranded for 40 minutes while trying to reach the sea - and his mum called for help when she was unable to reach him.

Two mud rescue technicians from Burnham-on-Sea Coastguard and Weston-super-Mare Coastguard with the help of a BARB Search and Rescue hovercraft safely freed the boy from the sand's clutches.

He then boarded the hovercraft and was taken back to the sand where relieved mum Susie Roberts was waiting.

Paramedics checked him over for signs of hypothermia but he escaped unharmed.

Susie was visiting Brean Beach with her son on a day trip from Portishead and said she is relieved he was rescued uninjured. 

She said: “I am hugely grateful to the BARB hovercraft crew, the Coastguards, and the beach warden for their very fast response.

“My son had run down the beach towards the sea and had unfortunately got stuck in a patch of very soft mud. I was so relieved that he was quickly rescued.”

A spokesman for BARB said the the mother and son had got into difficulty while exploring the beach.

The spokesperson said: “They were having a great day exploring the beach and some of the pools that were left by the receding tide.

“Unfortunately, the hard sand that they had been having their adventures on was also home to soft patches that were ready to catch them out.

“The young boy was able to travel further along the softer sand before becoming stuck. Mum had tried to reach him but as adults are heavier than children she was unable to get close enough to help him.

“One of the most frightening things for any parent is the inability to reach their children when they need them most. She told him to sit down and spread his weight to avoid sinking any further.”

A spokesman for Burnham Coastguard said the boy's mother 'did the right by telling her son to spread his weight and then alerting the Brean Beach warden.'

"This is a timely reminder that the beach can change from hard standing to soft sinking in a matter of a few footsteps," the spokesman said. 

"People don't tend to wander out into dangerous mud with the intention of becoming stuck and in this case, they were just caught out.

"A scary time for all involved but the little lad was very brave even when we turned up in a noisy hovercraft.

"The beach is an ever-changing landscape and the call out was a fine example of that."

If you ever see anyone in danger along the coast call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.