A WALKER has spoken of his death-defying ordeal after he became stuck up to his neck in mud in Morecambe Bay.

Stephen Higginbotham (47), of Market Street, Ramsbottom, was lucky to be alive after he took a walk along the beach on a family day trip.

He was strolling off the coast near Silverdale on Sunday when he began to sink in the bay's notorious shifting sands and mudflats.

A group of anglers spotted Mr Higginbotham and made an emergency call to Liverpool Coastguard, who alerted Arnside and Morecambe rescue teams and Morecambe's RNLI hovercraft.

It took emergency services nearly an hour to free him by using ropes and jets to make the sand and mud softer. He was rescued just after 11.15am and taken to the shore by hovercraft.

Mr Higginbotham was then treated in Lancaster Royal Infirmary for hypothermia before being released later the same day.

The accountant has praised his rescuers, saying he will make a donation to the team as thanks for saving him.

He said: "My wife had walked across and when I did I sank.

"The rescue team acted so quickly and I am very grateful to them. I will be contacting them to make a donation to say thank you."

The rescue took place in Morecambe Bay, which boasts the largest area of intertidal sand and mudflats in the UK. It is well-known for its treacherous sands and fast-moving incoming tides.

Paul Kirby, Liverpool Coastguard watch officer, said: "This man has been extremely lucky.

"He was up to his neck and if the anglers hadn't spotted him when they did, then things could have been very different.

"He was out taking a walk as he was on holiday with his family and they were staying at a caravan park in Far Arnside. He obviously didn't know the area and got into difficulty.

"After he was rescued he was very thankful. It must have been a really frightening experience. He was wet, tired and extremely cold, and was suffering from hypothermia."