A couple managed to get themselves stuck in thick mud while trying to retrieve their bottle of wine from a river.

The unidentified pair, who are said to have been drunk at the time, sparked a major rescue incident when they got trapped in sludgy banks of the River Truro in Newham, Cornwall, for around 45 minutes.

Dramatic footage from the scene shows the pair desperately trying to escape, writhing around in the mud but failing spectacularly.

View photos The drunk couple had been trying to retrieve a bottle of wine (SWNS) More

View photos Firefighters lowered a ladder so the pair could escape (SWNS) More

Onlookers threw them a rescue ring but it was left to firefighters, police and a specialist water rescue team from Falmouth to save the day.

A ladder was eventually lowered down so the intoxicated pair could finally make it back to the safety of dry land before the tide could come in.

Blogger Chris Sweet, who witnessed the incident, told MailOnline: “They had both been drinking but we think they fell in after dropping a bottle of wine in the mud.

MORE: Couple born in the same hospital on the same day tie the knot 50 years later

MORE: No wee amount! Test that shows how much urine there is in swimming pools will disgust you

“They were completely out of it and when we threw them the ring to lift them out they didn’t want to be rescued.”

Tom Randle, crew manager at Truro fire station, said that efforts to rescue the couple were hindered by their drunkenness.

He told Cornwall Live: “The risk of mud in Truro is considerable here so we’re looking into intensive training and equipment to deal with these ever increasing incidents.

View photos The couple were covered in mud after getting back on dry land (SWNS) More

View photos Wrapped up, the pair were later taken to hospital (SWNS) More

“In this situation it was just a case of getting a ladder down to them.

“It took some time as they were obviously intoxicated.”

The pair were taken to hospital to be checked out following the incident.

Top pic: SWNS