Firefighters rushed to rescue a man who became stuck in mud flats as the tide rushed in this morning.
The man became stuck in the mud at Fareham Creek, near Swan Quay, this morning as the tide came in.
Fareham resident, Yen Milne, was out on a walk this morning when a dog walker passed her and said that a man was in the water and stuck in the mud near Fareham Creek.
After wandering over to see what was going on, Yen said she had never seen such a large emergency response with two large fire engines and a fleet of ambulances.
Ambulances near Fareham Creek (Image: NQ) She said: "As I walked closer and close I began to see ambulances and firemen - that's when I knew that something serious had happened.
"A small crowd started to gather and we could see the head and shoulders of a man coming out of the water in the creek.
The man was stuck in the mud at Fareham Creek (Image: Submitted) "I was really worried for his welfare as it was only a few degrees this morning and the water would have been absolutely freezing cold."
Firefighters hatched a plan to rescue the man with a team deploying inflatable rafts and mounting kayaks in order to reach the casualty before he became submerged by the onrushing tide.
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Yen said she became more worried as the tide was rising fast.
Yen continued: "The rescuers were very quick and efficient - they inflated rafts and were in the water as quickly as they could.
Rescue teams devised a plan to reach the man in the water (Image: NQ) "Everyone watching on was relieved when someone shouted that the man was okay - it was so cold I was getting worried that he would not make it back to shore.
"Nobody at the scene seemed to know why the man was in the water but it was clear that he had become stuck in the thick mud under the surface of the water.
"I have never seen so many people involved in a rescue operation like that and I wish the man a speedy recovery."
Hampshire Fire and Rescue have been approached for more information.
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