TIME was of the essence for emergency services after they responded to reports of a youngster trapped in quicksand this afternoon.
A 16-year-old boy was freed after getting his leg trapped under the water level on the beach at Seaton Carew, near Hartlepool.
The alarm was raised at about 5.30pm.
A spokesman for Humber Coastguard, one of several emergency services to respond to the incident, said crews had to act quickly as the tide was coming in.
He suffered leg injuries, as well as being treated for shock and exposure to cold water, said the coastguard spokesman.
A spokeswoman for Cleveland Fire Brigade played down reports that the man was trapped in quicksand.
A spokesman for Cleveland Police said the youth was trapped in shallow water, and his foot became trapped by a combination of sand and rocks.
The incident took place in an area where work has been carried out on the sea defences, said the police spokesman.
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