Crews at the scene of the mud rescue at Minster

by Lewis Dyson

A young man rescued after being stuck up to his chest in mud was visiting the spot where his grandfather's ashes were scattered, it has emerged.

Daniel Traynor, 19, had just returned from two weeks' survival training in the Amazon paid for with money left to him in Jim Traynor's will.

He walked to Minster Cliffs from his home in Clyde Street, Sheerness, and started sinking in the clay yesterday afternoon.

Daniel was stuck for two hours before passers-by heard his desperate cries for help.

Attempting their own rescue, the 13-year-old boy and man of 21 then also got stuck in the mud near Seacliff Caravan Park.

"she said: "they are amazing. they are my heroes. i want to give them both a big hug..." – traci traynor

Daniel's mother Traci thanked the two boys who came to her son's rescue.

She said: "They are amazing. They are my heroes. I want to give them both a big hug.

"They stayed with him, they tried to help him, they put themselves at risk.

"When you hear so much bad press about kids, you've got a really good couple of kids there."

They called the emergency services to Royal Oak Point and rescue crews launched a desperate race against time, at about 1.50pm.

Crews from the coastguard and Kent Fire and Rescue Service used a lance and shovels as they battled to clear mud from around Daniel.

It took the rescuers two hours to free him using ropes and specialist rescue equipment.

A coastguard helicopter then winched the man from the cliff and flew him to Southend Hospital.

The coastguard helicopter leaves the scene of the mud rescue at Minster

The two would-be rescuers were quickly released and also taken to hospital for precautionary checks.

It came just a day after a woman and her son suffered from hypothermia after becoming trapped in mud at almost the same spot.

Firefighter Paul Schembri, from Sheppey station, said: "This is a real lesson to everyone to be extra careful when walking on any unstable surface, please stick to tracks and solid ground.

"It may look safe to walk on, but you can quickly become stuck and find yourself in a very dangerous position.

"I also want to appeal to anyone to call 999 if they see someone stuck and in need of help, rather than attempting a rescue themselves.

"I would like to praise all firefighters involved for their efforts in what was a very difficult environment.

"This was a multi-agency effort involving the RNLI, Coastguard, police and ambulance services."