Sponsored by
Dramatic mudbath rescue
The scene of the drama
TWO young girls were dramatically rescued after getting stuck in sinking mud.
Six police officers, one of the girl’s parents, two ambulance crews and three fire engines, as well as the police helicopter were called upon for the rescue, which happened near the former Victoria Colliery site in Standish.
The girls – aged 11 and 12 – were playing with a friend at the popular woodland area between Standish Golf Club and Cranleigh, when they became stuck in mud and began to sink.
One of the girls, all of whom are from Standish, managed to get free and acted quickly by calling the police and running to get help when the incident happened at shortly before 2pm on Monday.
PC Kathryn Gaskell, which is based at Wigan Police Station, was one of the first people to respond to the stricken girls’ cries for help. She said: “Thanks to the quick thinking actions of one of the young girls, the story has a happy ending. They were out enjoying themselves over the half-term when they became stuck. Thankfully one managed to get free and called for help.
“Six officers including myself and PC Sean Robinson attended and the girls were pulled free using rescue lines we carry in our vehicles. We had called the helicopter to help locate the girls as it is quite a large area, but thankfully one of the girl’s parents had arrived at around the same time and we were able to find them.
“The girls were very cold and covered in mud and obviously very shaken but were okay. They were taken to Wigan Infirmary as a precaution.
“I would like to reiterate how important it is for any youngsters caught in similar circumstances to do what these girls did, by remaining calm and calling for help as soon as possible.”
The rescue caused quite a stir among local residents as the emergency vehicles descended on Cranleigh.
Joan Jennings, who lives on Cranleigh, said: “We don’t really see many people down the street as it doesn’t lead anywhere but we were surprised to see the fire engines, Police and ambulances. We are just pleased to hear that the girls were okay.”
Another Cranleigh resident, Derrick Smith, said: “The area is popular with kids and dog walkers, but does get really muddy at this time of year.”
Jim Bridge, watch manager at Wigan Fire Station, said: “We were asked to assist in the rescue of the girls, but thankfully when we arrived the police had already freed them. We sent two engines from Wigan and asked for a special unit from Eccles which has special equipment for such rescues.”
Do you know the girls who were rescued on Monday? If so, contact the Wigan newsroom on 01942 506 279, or email andrew.edgeworth@jpress.co.uk.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Wigan
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: East
Comments
There are 18 comments to this article
Page 1 of 2
kdwig
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 11:22 PMIt was 2 pcsos who initially saved them i was told? Im with jemmy h
wigangirl
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 03:20 PMthekop89 what a stupid person, you should have been sent a hefty bill.
jones66
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 09:05 AMurrrgh..how disgusting letting ya mutt sleep in the same bed ..dear me
BigDaveS
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 08:06 AM#14 My dog sleeps in my room at the bottom of my bed. Going to call the RSPCA on me?
Wandering Wiganer
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 09:46 PM#11 - The RSPCA may be contacting you again to find out what you were doing with your dog in the bedroom.
rockcottage
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 08:41 PMPending Moderation
rockcottage
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 08:35 PMPending Moderation
thekop89
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 08:00 PMmy dog went missing the other day,i had 2 police helicopters,8 police cars,20 rspca officers 4 fire engines 5 ambulance and a partridge in a pear tree looking for it,thank god he was in the bed room...
Juanboy
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 06:54 PMThe amount of emergency services used was not ridiculous, when the police received the initial call it was believed the girls were stuck on the golf course. As you're probably aware, this is a large area, far to big for just 1 or 2 people to search. As it turns out, the girls weren't even on the Golf Course so its a good job there were enough people to facilitate the rescue otherwise we could be reading a far sadder story.
JemmyH
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 06:27 PMI heard the girl had been rescued by a female PCSO.
dav74
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 04:18 PMDoes it matter how many emergency services were called? the fact of the matter is these young girls, who were enjoying themselves during half term, managed to get out safe and well. Wouldn't we be reading different comments if the outcome had been different and the girls did not escape!!!!. Then the emergency services would have been the focus of alot of critisism. Well done to everyone involved for a HAPPY ENDING and our emergency services who if you had not noticed are so stretched and understaffed during these difficult economic times .
Scarecrow
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 03:39 PMMuphyio Does it matter as long as they were safe?
Trelawney
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 03:08 PMPost 5 It is wonderful to read such a well balanced comment, I totally agree with your posting.
Wigal
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 01:24 PMOk so they got themselves into a bit of a pickle but they still dealt with it in a very mature way. I think the amount of emergancy services was a little over the top though, surely it didn't take that many people to pull a girl out of some mud. It's actually really nice to hear about young people 'playing out' during the half term though instead of sitting at home in front of their computers. It wasn't too long ago I was spending my half terms climbing up trees and getting myself into mischief....I miss those days :(
Picasso
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 11:53 AMGlad the girls are ok. You hear of all kinds of bad things happening in such isolated places so maybe the parents will keep a closer eye on where their young children are playing in the future and thank thereselves very lucky it wasn't something much worse!
Page 1 of 2
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.