QUICK-thinking Minehead taxi driver Spike Kendall raised the alarm when he spotted a pensioner trapped in mud in the town’s harbour on Sunday morning.
Spike wasted no time in alerting Minehead’s lifeboat crew, who were at the nearby RNLI station preparing for the annual raft race due to take place later that day.
The 70-year-old man, who lives locally, had been walking across the beach and had attempted to climb up a large pile of stones at the harbour mouth when he got into difficulty.
“He was sinking and the tide was coming in fast,” said Spike.
“One leg was in the mud and the other was sort of laid on top of it but I could see that he was in trouble so I drove straight round to the lifeboat station.”
While the D-class lifeboat was being launched, one crew member ran round to the harbour mouth.
A Minehead RNLI spokesman said the man was helped to safety by the onshore crew member and the crew on the boat.
“He was stuck in the mud up to his knees,” he said.
A helicopter from RAF Chivenor had been scrambled as soon as the alarm was raised and a paramedic on board was able to check the man over before he was given a lift home by the lifeboat crew.
“It was lucky that I was there at the right time, otherwise it could have been a very different outcome” said Spike.
“I was glad I was able to help.”