A RESCUE operation was launched after two walkers and their dog got stuck in mud in East Mersea.

Charlotte Lomas and her boyfriend Luke were walking her greyhound, Chip, at Cudmore Grove Country Park when the drama unfolded.

They walked into a grassy area and Luke soon found himself waist-deep in mud.

Charlotte went to help, but ended up getting stuck herself.

After struggling for 45 minutes, and with dusk approaching, she called 999 on her mobile on Saturday at 3.30pm.

Charlotte, from Bicknacre, said: “We had never taken Chip to Mersea before. We walked from the car park along the coastline and it led to an area we thought was just grass. We didn’t realise it was the mud flats.

“Luke went across first, but got stuck. Within a couple of minutes, the mud was up to his thigh.

“I was trying to pull him out, but then I got stuck from where I was trying to pull him.

“We were trying for about 45 minutes before we called 999. We were shouting for help. No one could see us and it started to get dark.”

Essex Police sent officers and its helicopter to the scene.

By now, Charlotte was knee deep in mud.

Eight-year-old Chip was not stuck, but was lying down waiting close to the terrified couple.

The Mersea coastguard team, firefighters, ambulance crews and a RAF Sea King helicopter also arrived on scene.

The RAF helicopter winched Charlotte to safety before Luke, holding Chip, was picked up.

The couple and Chip were warmed up by paramedics, but did not need to go to hospital.

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