The primary purpose of the Instow Coastguard rescue team is to carry out Search and Rescue operations in the Taw Torridge estuary from Barnstaple Long Bridge to Bideford Steel Bridge. We will also provide back up to the Cliff rescue teams at Croyde,  Westward Ho! and Hartland as well as to other SAR assets if required.

The Instow team specialises as a Mud Rescue unit and is equipped and trained to recover casualties from the mud areas within the estuary.

The team also has a capability of Rapid Water Rescue, enabling a casualty to be retreived from the water without the use of a boat.

HM Coastguard Mud Rescue teams operate under a set of procedures and guidelines laid down by the MCA. These procedures and guidelines promote the safety and wellbeing of both the casualty and the rescuer.

The explanation below is intended as an overview of Mud Rescue, and demonstrates the methodology used when recovering a casualty who has become trapped in mud.

One may well ask how, if the casualty has become stuck, the rescuers are to avoid a similar problem. The rescue team is equipped with a mud sledge, boards, life jackets, ropes and grips and wear watertight suits which not only keep the team member dry but protect them from the effects of cold mud and water. Team members deployed on the mud are always connected to the shore by ropes and the mud sledge itself is attached to a winch and holdfast setup.

Two team members deploy onto the mud, pushing the mud sledge out towards the casualty. On reaching the casualty the sledge is reversed and positioned such that it can be used as a platform to allow the team members to work with the casualty without becoming stuck themselves. Boards may be deployed around the casualty to further assist and to allow the casualty to sit and remove their weight from their legs.

The rescue team will then begin to dig around the casualty in order to remove as much mud from their legs as possible. In many cases this is sufficient and the casualty can be lifted out of the mud and placed on the sledge. In some cases however, where the casualty may be stuck deeply, it may be necessary to utilise the mud lance. This device is a hollow tube with holes drilled along its length. The tube is attached to an air bottle normally carried on the back of a team member. By use of a valve and pressure reducer on the air tank, air can be blown into the mud around the casualty's legs or lower body, thus blowing the mud away and allowing the rescuers to pull the casualty upwards and out of the mud. The team also possesses a water lance which uses water to liquify the mud around the casualty. This is used as a back up method but tends to be more efficient where the casualty is stuck in sand.

After the casualty has been extracted they are laid on the sledge and the shore party use the winch to pull the sledge, the rescue team and the casualty back to shore.

There are many different aspects of of Mud Rescue and this description is intended only as an overview of the equipment used by the Instow team.

The best way to avoid becoming stuck in the mud is to remain on the shore, and not be tempted to walk on the mud flats, marshes or sand banks in the estuary. The tidal range in the estuary is high even during Neap tides and becoming stuck whilst the tide is flooding represents a serious risk both to you and to those who come to your assistance.