A New Year's Day emergency call to a beach in East Sussex took an unexpected turn when the responding ambulance itself needed rescuing after becoming trapped in the sand.
Emergency Response Turns to Rescue Mission
The South East Coast Ambulance Service confirmed that one of its vehicles was dispatched to Camber Sands in the early hours of January 1, 2026, following reports of a person in a serious condition. After providing initial treatment to the patient, the crew found their ambulance stuck, with photographs showing waves lapping at its rear wheels as the tide changed.
The situation required calling in a haulage company to extract the emergency vehicle. Dean Miller, a spokesperson for the recovery firm, remarked on the unusual nature of the call-out. ‘I’ve never seen an ambulance trapped on Camber Sands,’ he said. ‘But there have been plenty of other vehicles stuck there over the years. The staff were lucky – it was a near miss.’
Patient Safe, But Locals Left Baffled
Fortunately, the patient was not put at further risk by the vehicle's predicament. A second ambulance was called to the scene and transported the individual to hospital for further care. A replacement vehicle was also provided so the original crew could continue their shift.
Local residents, however, expressed confusion over how the incident occurred. One bemused onlooker questioned the decision-making, stating: ‘I have to say I’m confused as to why they took it down there. At least they didn’t bury it trying to get out.’ Another was more direct, asking: ‘Who’s the drip that drove onto the sand?’
Not the First Emergency Vehicle Mishap
This is not an isolated incident for emergency services facing logistical challenges. In a separate event, a paramedic in Newport, Hampshire, managed to wedge his ambulance in a Sainsbury's car park while attending a call, smashing the vehicle's lights in the process. It reportedly took seven supermarket staff to free it by deflating the tyres.
The South East Coast Ambulance Service has not commented on whether any internal review of the Camber Sands incident will take place, focusing instead on confirming that the patient received appropriate care and that arrangements were made to recover the stranded vehicle.
