Horse rescued from river on Port Meadow

At 10pm on the 22 December 2011, Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service were called to a report of a Horse stuck in the river on Port Meadow, Oxford.

A member of the public had been out for a late night stroll only to see the horse in distress and called the Fire Service for assistance.

Two Fire engines from Rewley Road, Oxford and a Rescue Tender from Kidlington attended the incident and it was clear that on arrival the horse had been stuck for a while and was showing signs of tiredness.

Fire crews worked quickly in tricky conditions to assist the horse and various large animal rescue techniques were carried out using multiple slings and ropes to draw the horse nearer the bank and then finally to safety. The rescue took nearly two hours to complete.

Firefighter Collins from Rewley Road said: “This was a very complicated rescue, the horse seemed very tired by the time he was finally out of the river and clear of the extremely boggy river bank but it is great to know we have helped him to safety"

A vet was called to check the horse over and was satisfied that he was fit and well so was released back onto the meadow.

 

 

 

 

 

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