A GRATEFUL father has paid tribute to the rescue teams who saved four children whose lives were in danger.

The youngsters, all aged 12, became stuck on a muddy beach as the tide crept in on Tuesday night.

One of the girls, Tily Jones, raised the alarm by calling the police with only 2two per cent battery on her phone.

Tily’s father Peter, from Harwich, revealed how his daughter and three friends, Callum and Tia Newman and Eleanor Liddle, had ventured out on to the mudflats near Wrabness after playing on a nearby rope swing.

“I first became aware there was a situation when Tily didn’t come home at her usual time,” said Peter.

“It was very unlike her.

“She would normally phone to say she would be ten minutes late, but by 7.50pm I put my coat on to go out and find her.

“As I was leaving, Essex Police phoned and said there was a situation at the mudflats at Wrabness.

“Your heart just drops. She can be a bit naughty, as all children can be at that age, but she is not a bad child.

“There is a rope swing around there which they had been using.

“They had gone down on to the mudflats at about 5.15pm and before long the light started dropping.”

Halstead Gazette:

Grateful - Peter and Tily Jones

Police received a 999 call from Tily, a pupil at Harwich and Dovercourt High School, at about 6.45pm on Tuesday.

Officers requested the support of the Coastguard and the RNLI.

The four children were found by officers after Tily guided them to the scene.

Two of the children made it to safety with assistance. The other two were lifted to safety by the Coastguard’s helicopter.

All four were taken to Colchester hospital for precautionary checks.

Mr Jones said his daughter had learned a harsh lesson.

“I was really impressed with the response and with the teamwork displayed by all emergency services,” he said.

“There are mixed emotions.

I am proud of Tily for the way she reacted but, of course, I wish she hadn’t gone there.

“The police came and got me and took me to where the incident had taken place.

“When I arrived, the helicopter was on site winching the other two stranded kids.

“After about an hour they brought her in the ambulance and she was there wrapped up in a warm blanket, very muddy.

“I breathed an emotional sigh of relief.

“I have spoken to the mum of Tia and Callum and we are thinking of getting the kids to do something for charity to give a bit back to the emergency services.

“I want to prevent any other parents having to go through this and make clear the dangers of living near an estuary.

“I can’t really put any further punishment in place, as whatever lesson I give would not be as great as what she went through that evening.

“She realises fully the gravity of what happened and it has been a harsh lesson.”