A YOUNG woman had a lucky escape after getting stuck in the muddy banks of the River Colne.

The woman, believed to be a student at Essex University, fell into the river at low tide near King Edward Quay, Colchester.

She got stuck and her screams for help alerted residents in nearby houseboats.

The river is tidal and she would have been submerged within hours.

David Boughton, 35, who lives on one of the boats, led the rescue operation after being woken by her calls on Monday at 3am He said: “She could have lost her life.

“It is very difficult to get people out of the mud. We had to improvise with the equipment we had.

“She was in and out of consciousness.

“Mud rescue is exhausting, it saps your energy, but we did it.”

Police officers and firefighters were at the scene, but the equipment they had was not appropriate for a mud rescue situation.

Mr Boughton, who used to teach rescue safety with the coastguards, and now works as a harbour master in Tollesbury, used his own rescue equipment to attempt to pull her to safety.

He threw a ring and rope to the girl and she managed to put the ring over herself.

They dragged her to a kayak next to David’s boat.

They then used a ladder, resting on a piece of plywood to stop it sinking, to pull her up.

John Howe, 54, who also lives on one of the nearby boats, said: “She was very distressed.

She was on the verge of passing out.”

It is understood she was suffering from hypothermia and she was taken to Colchester General Hospital.

After the rescue, Mr Boughton received a call to say they had not locatedaman who was with her, and the team were preparing to search for him in the mud.

However, they discovered he had not gone into the mud after her and was safe.

He was located nearby.

Residents in the area have raised concerns about the lack of safety equipment and street lighting near the river.

Nicola Howe, Mr Howe’s wife, said: “It is a really big issue. It is just a good job we have ropes and stuff on our boats.”

Mr Boughton said: “It is a high risk area. You’ve got two bars and lots of students nearby.”

Colchester Council was unable to provide a response.

Were you the young woman rescued from the mud? Contact the newsdesk on 01206 508432 or email zoe.forsey@nqe.com.