East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service is calling on walkers to be extra careful after a water rescue at Rye Harbour.
Two men needed to be helped on 5 March 2022 after trying to reach their dog. The dog was passed to safety but the men found themselves stranded in mud and waist height water.
The Service sent fire engines form Rye and Hastings and a technical rescue unit from Battle to support the RNLI inshore lifeboat which was first to the scene and swiftly rescued the men.
SECamb attended to assess the casualties who were very cold and wet.
Station Manager Dan Channon from East Sussex FRS said:
“A big thank you to the RNLI crew for doing such a great job, and to SECamb for looking after the men so well. It’s unfortunately not the first time we have had rescues in Rye Harbour. The mud can cause serious difficulties for anyone who gets caught in it. We’re asking people to follow some simple guidance to help keep themselves and their pets safe.”
Top tips
A lot of rescues are sparked by people entering the water to try and save a dog. The dog usually manages to scramble out, however the outcome can be much more serious for the owner.
• If you see someone in trouble, the first thing to do is call for help - straightaway. Call 999. If you are near the coast ask for the coastguard and ambulance. If you are inland ask for fire service and ambulance. The emergency services will need to know where you are. Accurate information saves time.
• Even dogs that like swimming can usually only swim for short bursts - keep an eye on your dog and don't let it enter the water if it's older or tired.
• Think about where you’re walking. Remember the wet riverbanks, steep edges or jagged rocks can make it hard for a dog to scramble out and be a slip risk for owners.
• If your dog loves the water keep it on a lead and make sure you have control to prevent it jumping into hazardous or unsafe areas.
• Try to avoid throwing sticks or balls near water for dogs - they will go after it if they think you want it back, even if you've thrown it too far or into dangerous water.
• Don't lean into the water and try and lift your dog out - you can topple in.
• If your dog has struggled in the water it may have inhaled water and should see a vet as dogs can drown after the event if water has entered the lungs.
Get more out of life - join our Rye crew
We are looking for on call firefighters at Rye.
An on-call firefighter is someone who responds to a range of fire and rescue service jobs; these range from emergency calls, working at open days, carrying out work with their local communities and acting as an ambassador for the fire service.
On-call firefighters come from every walk of life, including homemakers, shopkeepers, builders, farmers, office workers and directors of companies, together with people who are not currently employed.
Over 90% of On-call firefighters in East Sussex do their firefighting work alongside their day job.
Full training is provided on an ongoing basis, therefore previous experience is not needed
Find out more by popping into the station on drill night (Tuesdays from 18.45) or going to www.esfrs.org/rds
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