Emergency services were called into action on Thursday evening after a child became trapped in soft silt at the Waterworks in North Belfast.
The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) responded to the alert on Cavehill Road at approximately 8:39pm on Thursday, August 20. Firefighters, including an appliance from Whitla station alongside a specialist rescue team, arrived promptly with dedicated rescue equipment.
Recent dry spells have caused sections of the water at the park to recede, exposing areas of deep, soft silt. The incident unfolded when a football was kicked onto the exposed ground and the child went to retrieve it, quickly becoming stuck in the mud.
Thanks to the swift response of the specialist rescue crew, the child was safely freed from the mud, with emergency personnel successfully concluding the operation by 9:06pm.
Warning signs have been placed on nearby fencing to alert visitors that the dried-up areas are soft and pose a hazard. Local families and park users are urged to exercise caution and keep clear of the exposed silt.