A WOMAN saved from the mud has added her voice to an appeal for safety on coastlines.

Lucien Cruse, 21, was walking her dogs on Bradwell beach at low tide with her mother, Emma, and younger brother, Tyler, when they became stuck in the mud last October.

Lucien became stuck fast, but her mother and brother managed to get themselves free and raise the alarm as the water crept ever closer.

She said West Mersea RNLI’s lifeboat volunteers “saved my life” as the tide rose up her body.

“I got stuck at low tide,” she said.

“I tried all sorts of ways to get out of the mud. I admit, I was pretty scared when the tide came up all the way to my waist.”

Read more: Fears taxpayer could foot £70m bill amid concerns link road is two years behind schedule

The 999 call was received by HM Coastguard, who sent Coastguard Rescue Teams from West Mersea and South Woodham.

Due to the speed at which the tide was closing in, the control room made the decision to also request the launch of the West Mersea lifeboat to reach Lucien as quickly as possible.

She added: “It took the lifeboat about ten minutes to reach us and they managed to dig the mud out from around me and get me free. I’m so grateful to all involved for saving my life.”

Alongside the RNLI, one year on from her incident, Lucien has now urged people to be careful and take measures to avoid what happened to her last October half-term.

During last year’s half-term holidays, RNLI lifeboats launched 143 times and aided 78 people as its volunteer crews dealt with everything from tidal cut-offs and struggling paddleboarders, to slips and trips on coastal paths.

RNLI senior water safety manager, Tony Wafer, said: “With the best of the weather behind us for the year, we’re asking those visiting the coast this half-term to consider the dangers.

“Our lifeboats often rescue those cut off by the tide on coastal walks, so we encourage you to check the tide times and ensure you have planned to get back safely before the water level rises.

“For those planning a coastal walk, also consider the terrain as what may seem like firm ground can, in fact, be soft sand or mud.

“Over the coming months, sea conditions will become rougher and more unpredictable, which brings many additional dangers.

“Large waves will break on the shoreline which increases the risk of people being swept off their feet."