MEMBERS of Arnside’s coastguard team have been given an official commendation for their dramatic rescue of a seven-year-old snared by quicksand earlier this year, reports Lisa Frascarelli.

The 12-strong team was presented with an award from Chief Coastguard of Great Britain John Astbury at Arnside Sailing Club on Monday night.

Arnside station officer George Crossman, who also received a long service award for his 20 years with the waterborne rescuers, said the group was “thrilled”.

He said the team’s race against the tide to rescue the Southport youngster, who was trapped under Arnside pier, was one of the most hair-raising rescues they had pulled off in recent years. “We’re all thrilled to bits. It’s the third commendation the team has had so we’ll definitely be celebrating with a few cups of tea,” he said.

The team, which guards quicksands described by Mr Crossman as “the worst in Britain”, also received a commendation in 1996 for a rescuing a man trapped near Carnforth, and in 1983 when a dinghy hit the viaduct.

Mr Crossman, who has been station officer at Arnside for 11 years, said the team attends around 100 call-outs each year. His expertise of the perilous sands, which have been the focus of a Sky TV documentary, has seen him give talks across the country.