RESCUE teams fought a desperate battle against a rising tide to save a man trapped in deep mud after a wild fowling expedition threatened to turn to tragedy.

The incident on Friday night brought together task forces from Kent Fire and Rescue, Police, a helicopter from RAF Wattisham and the Sheppey Coastguard.

But emergency services were hampered by the fact the only access from land was from Raspberry Hill Lane, Iwade.

Coastguard Ian Goodwin said: "The man was trapped three-quarters of a mile off shore in particularly deep, sticky mud which is characteristic of the coastline and very treacherous and we only had a small window of time to rescue him.

"September 1 was the start of the wild-fowling season and two young men, one an experienced wild fowler and the other a novice, went out with firearms.

"They were both in their early twenties and because he was a novice one of them had bought waders a size too big.

"It meant that every time he lifted his foot it came out of the boot and he was left stuck in the mud."

His companion raised the alarm and Sheppey coastguard assembled the mud rescue gear which included a mud sledge and winch and Kent fire crew supplied a search light.

Mr Goodwin said: "Coastguard Les Woolnough, who is a big fellow, went out to assess the situation and because he is a strong fellow was able to free him but as he did so the man’s rucksack with his car keys disappeared under the water.

"If he had been on his own he would have drowned without a doubt because he was too far away to make anyone hear him from the shore.

"Police were concerned at first because there were firearms involved and insisted on examining their licenses when they reached.

"I asked the young man, who was in a state of shock if he was okay and all he could say was: 'I’m not going out there again' - and I don’t think they’d shot any birds."