This is the dramatic moment a terrified family of five were rescued by a hovercraft – after their car became stranded half a mile from the shore.
Two teams of coast guards battled to save the trapped 4×4, which was stuck on mud flaps at Brean beach, Burnham-on-Sea at 4.10pm on Saturday.
A rescue hovercraft, operated by charity BARB, flew out to safely bring the couple and their three children back to the beach.
They were checked over by coast guards as a tractor towed the Hyundai Tucson from the mud.
Car owner Mark Freye, 47, from Bristol, said his three children aged seven, four and two, had been trapped in the vehicle with him and their mother.
He said: ”I’ve driven here in the past and know the dangers, but was amazed at how quickly the car just sank into the mud.
”I am hugely grateful to the emergency services who helped us. We will be making a donation to BARB after what could have been an expensive day trip to the beach ended happily.”
Ian Jefferies, coast guard for Burnham-on-Sea added: ”This incident again highlights the dangers of driving out into the mud – we hope that this is not the first of further similar rescues during the year.”
BARB Chairman Mark Newman said: ”BARB’s crew were happy to help and were relieved that no-one was hurt in the incident.
”It served as a timely reminder about staying clear from the mud on our beaches.”
