Holidaymaker praises helpers after mud rescue

A holidaymaker who got stuck in the mud at Whitby Harbour on the last day of her break has thanked her rescuers for "saving my life", describing them as "real life heroes".

Kadassi Nembhard became trapped after she rushed to stop her daughter from sinking while they played on the beach in the seaside town.

She said the experience was "really scary" and that she would be "forever grateful" to the Whitby Coastguard and fire and rescue teams who brought her to safety.

She also offered thanks to two passers-by who talked to her and helped "keep me calm" while help was on its way.

Nembhard, from Darwen, in Lancashire, was on the final day of a three-day trip to Whitby with her son and daughter, as well as her friend and her friend's son.

She said the group had gone done to the beach on Wednesday, while the tide was out, when her three-year-old daughter started to sink, as she and her friend's son played by the water's edge.

Nembhard said she "panicked and as I went to grab her, I then myself got stuck".

She added: "I managed to get her out safely. But then my feet were completely stuck, I just didn't know what to do.

"Panic set in and I turned round to my friend and said 'I'm stuck'. It got deep within seconds. It was just below my knees.

"I had boots on as well. There was no wriggle room and I couldn't move my feet at all."

Nembhard said two passers-by came to try to help free her, but kept getting stuck themselves, so instead tried to keep her calm from a distance.

Shortly afterwards the emergency services arrived and managed to dig the young mum out with the help of a spade, a plank of wood and a signboard brought by a local fisherman.

Nembhard said she was stuck for around half an hour but admitted it "felt a lot longer than that".

Whitby Coastguard praised Nembhard for remaining still and asking for help, which they said "significantly reduced" her chances of coming to further harm.

Asked if she had a message for her rescuers, Nembhard said: "You literally saved my life, saved my daughter's life. I know some of them volunteers.

"They're real-life heroes and the aftercare they provided was second to none. I'm forever grateful to them for saving me."

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