Boy,13, trapped in muddy hell

9:37am Saturday 12th January 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

A TEENAGE boy was rescued by firefighters after becoming trapped up to his knees in mud while playing on a building site.

The boy was stranded in thick mud off Belle Vue Street, Billington, near Whalley, for half an hour yesterday.

He was rescued when his friends called emergency services from his mobile phone at around 6.30pm.

Officers used rope rescue equipment to free the youngster.

Firefighters said the boy had been playing in the mud with his friends.

Blackburn Station manager Gary Monk said: "The water rescue unit was sent to the scene but the boy had already been freed by a crew from Great Harwood.

"He had been playing with his friends in the dark and became stuck in the mud.

"His friends contacted the emergency services using a mobile phone. The boy was in an agitated state. While he wasn't seriously injured he complained of suffering from a twisted ankle."

Local resident Suzanne Murray, of Dale View, Billington, said: "I was walking my dog on the estate and saw all the commotion with the fire brigade at the scene.

"I asked someone what had happened and they said a boy was stuck in the mud.

"He looked like he was in pain and was shouting out.

"I didn't recognise him or any of his friends so I don't think they were off the estate. I don't know what they were doing down there in the first place as it's a dangerous building site."

Another resident from the housing estate, Mark Davies, 47, said: "Building sites are obviously dangerous places but they seem to be attractive to kids.

"It should be fenced off at night so kids can't get onto it.

"There's a park just around the corner so I don't know why they weren't playing on there."