A foal has been rescued by the RSPCA and fire crews after falling into a river and becoming stuck in the water for more than three hours.
RSPCA inspector Justin Stubbs was called to the River Nene at Guyhirn in Cambridgeshire on Saturday, 19 June after a passerby spotted a “little piebald pony” stuck up to its shoulders on the edge of the riverbank.
The rescue crew paddled out to the foal and pulled him to safety. Photo: RSPCA
“When I arrived at the scene I realised, quite quickly, that the pony was in fact a young foal, so I knew he wouldn’t be able to get himself out,” said Justin.
“I expect he slipped into the water while grazing on the riverbank or trying to get a drink and, as he was only little, couldn’t clamber back up the bank.
“The water was deep and was coming up to his shoulder and we ascertained from the caller who had spotted him that he’d been there for at least three hours, so I was concerned about him getting cold,” continued Justin.
The foal was too small to climb up the riverbank. Photo: RSPCA
Three crews from Cambridgeshire Fire & Rescue Service also attended to assist Justin with the foal’s rescue.
They used ropes and a rescue sled to paddle out to the foal, securing him safely and pulling him to safety before helping him up the bank.
“Our Combined Fire Control received a call just before 4pm on Saturday to reports of a trapped foal near the A47 at Guyhirn. Crews from March, Wisbech and Dogsthorpe in Peterborough attended the incident,” said a fire service spokesman.
“Working with colleagues from the RSPCA, firefighters wearing specialist kit entered the water to safely rescue the foal. They returned to their stations by 6pm.”
On examination, the foal was found not to be injured.
“The foal was a little wet, bedraggled and dirty but, thankfully, wasn’t injured,” confirmed Justin.
After a vet check, the foal returned to his herd. Photo: RSPCA
“We sought vet advice and monitored him for a little while to make sure he was okay before leading him back to his herd. He trotted off happily to his friends.”
Find out more about the RSPCA’s rescue work and donate to the charity here.
