A PENSIONER has been left with a fractured wrist after becoming trapped in suspected quicksand.
The 70-year-old, known only as Trina, was “up to her knees” in sand on the beach near Hove Lagoon on Saturday after moving to allow a “large group” past.
She then fell forward on to her wrist, fracturing it in two places.
Her friend and neighbour Adele Gee told The Argus how Trina became panicked after no one came to her rescue.
“No one went to help her which is quite sad,” said Adele.
“She ended up in quicksand up to her knees. It made her fall forward and she smacked her wrist, she stood up and then tried to get out and fell over again onto her wrist.
“She then managed to help herself out. She doesn’t like to make a fuss.”
Adele, who is a member of a sea swimming club in the city, said there should be signs warning people of the dangers of "quicksand".
“We swim all year round,” she said. “They should have something by Hove Lagoon. It’s a busy area.
“It might just make people think twice about walking there.
“When you think of the amount of stay-cations – there’s just not enough coverage or even knowledge.”
Councillor Robert Nemeth, whose ward ends just before the site of the "quicksand" said Brighton and Hove City Council needs to act fast.
“The issue of a quicksand-like substrata on the beach in Hove is not one that I was expecting to deal with this week," he said.
“A number of complaints from various unrelated sources have arrived, including from experienced swimmers, so I have immediately raised with the council to see if this is a known problem.
“I have asked for a statement to be released to hopefully explain exactly what is going on. I would of course urge caution in the meantime.”
Lifeguards on Hove beach said they have not received reports of people sinking in quicksand in the area, but that holes dug in the sand during a low tide can appear to be filled in when in fact they are not – which may cause people to “sink”.
Brighton and Hove City Council did not respond to a request for comment.
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