AN UNCONSCIOUS man was rescued after reportedly getting stuck up to his waist in mud.

Emergency services rushed to the River Adur in Shoreham after a man got into difficulty there this morning.

Coastguards received report that a person had entered the river at 3.42am.

It sparked a major rescue effort led by the Shoreham Coastguard Rescue team, with the help of police officers, the Shoreham RNLI lifeboat, the ambulance and fire services.

There are unconfirmed reports that a woman was also in difficulty, up to her ankles in the mud.

Pictures from the scene show the large presence of the emergency services.

It is understood that a man was unconscious and up to his waist in the river mud.

HM Coastguard said: “At 3.42am this morning (January 2), Shoreham RNLI lifeboat, Shoreham Coastguard Rescue Team, Sussex Police, the South East Coast Ambulance Service and West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service were sent to a report of a person who was believed to have entered the River Adur.

“The person was located stuck in the mud and extracted by the police and fire and rescue service.

“The casualty was then passed into the care of the ambulance service and taken to hospital.”

The police and fire service were contacted.