A WOMAN has been rescued from marshland at Abbeyford Woods after getting stuck during heavy rainfall.

The woman called 999 while out walking her three dogs on January 18 after accidentally wandering into marshland, getting stuck and slowly sinking.

Distressed and suffering from the onset of hypothermia, the caller was slightly disorientated and unable to give Devon and Somserset Fire Service her exact location.

Based on the information passed by the caller, appliances from Okehampton and specialist rescue appliances from Barnstaple were mobilised, and instructed to co-ordinate a search of the area in and around Abbeyford Woods.

Fire control kept the caller on the line while getting the fire appliances in the area to sound their two tone horns. Through doing this, they managed to ascertain the caller was nearby as she could hear the horns and two tones.

Twenty firefighters, many on foot, searched a widespread area with rough terrain. After 45 to 50 minutes, the woman was eventually found stuck firmly in the mud, suffering from shock and hypothermia.

Rescued from the mud by several firefighters, she was taken to the main road, where the crews administered first aid until she was taken to hospital. Her dogs were looked after by her neighbour.