Stuck mudflat walkers rescued from Waddenzee by helicopter
A group of 32 mudflat walkers had to be rescued from the Waddenzee by helicopter after developing symptoms of hypothermia while walking to Ameland.
The coastguard were called out just before 7am on Sunday after the walkers became stuck in rising tide waters as they approached the island after four hours of wading through shallow water.
Some of the group had to be plucked from the water by helicopter because the lifeboat was unable to reach them. They were taken to the island’s lifeboat station where they were given a shower and warm clothing and checked over by an ambulance crew.
The group, which included four guides, set off from Holwert, Friesland, at 2.30am for a special night crossing which is only organised once a year.
Willard Molenaar of the lifeboat organisation KNRM said the group appeared to have waded into a gully that was deeper than they first realised.
“Usually people are up to their knees in the water, but this was much higher. They were effectively trapped by the rising waters,” he said.
Ice cubes
One of the walkers, Nynke Heeg, told local broadcaster Omrop Fryslân how panic gradually set in as the group realised they were stuck. “It had been a lovely trip. The sun came up, everything was calm and peaceful,” she said.
“One after the other we became quieter and colder. One or two started to panic, but we were able to keep each other calm. My feet were like ice cubes.”
Another walker, Martijn Rijke, said the group became stuck in the last section of deep water before reaching the island.
“It was really hard to find a way through that wasn’t too deep and a couple of people with us were already feeling the cold,” he said. “They weren’t able to go through the deep water.”
Mud walking tour guides were forced to change the route from Holwert last September, adding three kilometres, because a build-up of sludge on the seabed had made the original route impassable.
Guides use various tools, from wooden poles to satellite navigation, to ensure walkers do not become stuck while crossing from the mainland to the Wadden islands, but the coastguard are called out several times a year to rescue stranded parties.
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