'Tide came in so quick I feared I'd be swept away'

A woman whose all-terrain wheelchair got stuck on the beach has said she was "absolutely terrified" of being swept away by the rapidly rising tide.

The wheels of Jo Jones' chair sank into the sand while she was enjoying a day at the coast in New Brighton, Wirral, with her assistance dog Yoda.

"I looked up to see the tide coming in quickly," she said. "I couldn't believe how quickly it was happening - in minutes the water had started to creep in behind me."

The Ellesmere Port resident, who was rescued by RNLI volunteers, urged others to "just be extra cautious" when visiting the coast ahead of the May bank holiday weekend.

The RNLI has warned of the phenomenon of "spring tides" over the coming weekend.

They are characterised by a greater tidal range, with the sea coming further inshore and moving faster, increasing the risk of people becoming stranded.

Jo said she was throwing a ball around for Yoda when she realised her all-terrain wheelchair had become lodged in the sand.

She looked up in a "state of panic" as the tide began to rapidly advance, and called her mum, before her carer contacted the coastguard for help.

Volunteers from Hoylake RNLI came to her rescue on a hovercraft, took her safely to the shore, and later dislodged her wheelchair.

Teams from Wirral and Flint Coastguard Rescue and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service also helped in the rescue operation.

Jo said: "This is the first time I've been out to the beach this year, but I'm really familiar with the beach in New Brighton and always check the tide times.

"We were just caught out, the water was coming in much more rapidly than I remember and I'd urge people to just be extra cautious."

Despite the scare, Jo said her all-terrain wheelchair gave her "so much freedom", and would not stop visiting the Wirral coast.

She said she would be "much more careful in future", however, to check the weather and tide times.

Chris Cousens, of the RNLI said: "With the May bank holiday being a prime opportunity for coastal walks, it's important to be safe.

"Tide times and heights vary throughout the month, and the incoming tide can easily leave people stranded. If you are planning on visiting the coast, check the tide times before you go."

Michael Buratti, from HM Coastguard, said the region's beaches were expected to be very busy during the long weekend.

He warned people to look out for "extremely dangerous" patches of soft mud.

And he advised: "If you do become stuck, the safest thing to do is to sit back, to spread your weight evenly."

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