TWO MEN who became stuck in mud at Leigh Marina had to be rescued by firefighters.

The pair, though to be in the forties, were stuck about 50 yards from the shore near Leigh railway station.

Crews from Southend and Leigh stations were called about 1.20pm and managed to drag the man out about 2pm.

Leigh sub officer Jeff Hammond said: “The men had been out sailing and their boat had got stuck in mud as the tide was going out.

"The men decided to make their way to shore by walking in, but as they nearly got back to dry land, they hit a patch of sinking mud and become stranded.

“One man had back injuries and the other was exhausted.

"The RNLI's hovercraft was called in, but was unable to reach the men, so the fire service was requested.

"Fire crews laid out two inflatable rescue paths across the mud to reach the men.

“The man with back injuries was lifted onto a spine board and fire crews carried him back to the shore to waiting ambulance crews."