An injured woman was saved "just in time" from the rising tide by heroic lifeguards.

The woman, who had an injured left knee and a cut foot, was helped back to shore moments before the tide at the Chalkwell mudflats rose above her.

The Chalkwell Lifeguards were on patrol yesterday before receiving a report at 12.45pm a woman was trapped.

When the lifeguards arrived, the water was already at her knees.

Southend's Coastguard and the ambulance service also assisted in the rescue, with the woman treated by ambulance crews once she had been helped back to the shore.

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A spokesman from the Chalkwell Lifeguards said: "A routine Chalkwell Lifeguards Sunday afternoon foot patrol over the sand banks to warn swimmers in the Ray and Leigh Creek of the incoming tide, turned into a dramatic rescue following a report to Chalkwell Lifeguards HQ at Chalkwell Shelter at 12.45pm by a member of the public of a female with an injured left knee and cut feet imobile a quartre of a mile out from the Beach at Chalkwell.

"The two Chalkwell Lifeguard Club members already on patrol on the sand banks were radioed by the club patrol captain from the Club HQ and tasked to divert to assist the injured lady who was approximately half a mile to their east.

"The two Chalkwell Lifeguard patrol members in their bright yellow shirts were first on scene and reached the injured lady just in time as she was already knee deep in water of the incoming tide by this time, and they began to assist her back over the mudflats towards the beach and were met by Southend Coastguards, ambulance and foreshore personel who also responded and assisted with this incident."