Sheep saved from freezing to death after getting stuck down deep hole

Ewe would not believe it: Sheep stuck down deep hole. Photo: RSPCA

The ewe is thought to have fallen into the six foot deep hole at night as temperatures plunged below freezing at the weekend.

The man tried to pull the animal from the hole in a field in Akeley, Buckinghamshire, but couldn’t so called in the RSPCA to help.

RSPCA animal collection officer Kate Wright and Nick Honor, station commander at Bucks Fire & Rescue Service, rushed to the scene to find the distressed sheep trapped down the hole.

The sheep suffered grazed legs, was covered in mud and freezing but survived. Photo: RSPCA

Thankfully despite slight grazing and being muddy the ewe wasn’t injured and between the pair they managed to pull her out.

“The ewe had grazed her back legs and was very cold and weak but we stayed with her for about an hour after getting her out and she eventually managed to walk over to the rest of the flock,” said Kate after the rescue.

“I was able to track down an owner who attended straight away and was going to keep a close eye on her.

“I was very thankful to Nick, there was no way I could have got her out on my own.”

Nick, said it is a common misconception that fire and rescue services only become involved in animal rescues when cats are stuck up trees.

“The reality, however, is very different,” Nick said.

“Fire and rescue services have a range of specialist skills and equipment to undertake animal rescues and will assist where there is a need.

“In this instance, working together with the RSPCA, we were quickly and successfully able to minimise any further distress and move the sheep to a place of safety.”