Scots fire officers and police helped lifeboat crews save two people and five dogs, in a daring rescue effort.
On 28 June at 11.25am, Queensferry RNLI were alerted to two persons and five dogs stuck in the mud up to their waists in the area close to Carriden slipway at Bo'Ness at just after 11:25am yesterday, June 28.
The RNLI say the area became cut off by the tide which was coming in.
The Jimmie Cairncross Atlantic B-Class lifeboat made best speed to the scene. Unfortunately, the lifeboat was unable to reach the casualties due to lack of water at that time.
They were forced to stand by as a safety vessel for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service mud team who activated the rescue slide and recovered the casualties back to safety. Local UK Coastguard teams and SORT were also in attendance.
The RNLI lifeboat was immediately retasked to assist Kinghorn RNLI and the UK Coastguard Helicopter with the rescue of a person in the water at Burntisland at 12.40pm. The casualty was recovered onto the Kinghorn lifeboat where they made best speed to Burntisland Harbour.
Volunteers from Queensferry RNLI assisted to bring the casualty safely ashore and proceed with casualty care until they could handover to the Scottish Ambulance Service. Also in attendance were local UK Coastguard teams, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, and Police Scotland.
Callum, volunteer Helm at Queensferry RNLI, said: ‘Yesterday we were tasked to two multi-agency incidents along with our SAR partners. Upon arrival on scene at the first incident, the fire service had started to execute a rescue of two persons and five dogs stuck in the mud.
"As the tide was coming in, we stood by in the lifeboat to provide safety cover and add another option for extraction of the casualties if required.
"During the second incident we supported our colleagues from Kinghorn RNLI lifeboat by providing casualty care.
"This specialist training provided by the institution, funded by our supporters, helped bridge the gap in prehospital care. All of our training is funded through donations from our supporters.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their continued support, especially those who attended our Open Day last weekend to help raise vital funds for the work we do."
If you find yourself in an emergency situation or spot someone else in trouble, you should call 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard.
