Dorset firefighters called to six cows trapped in underground slurry pit

DORSET FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE
Crews in Dorset were called to a farm in the village of Puddletown at around 12.40pm on 18 January. Credit: Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

Firefighters had to rescue six cows after they became trapped in an underground slurry pit.

Crews in Dorset were called to a farm in the village of Puddletown at around 12.40pm on Thursday 18 January.

The farmer reported that they had fallen through an inspection cover and had been trapped there for hours.

A farmer had reported his animals getting into difficulty near Water Barn Track in Tolpuddle. Credit: Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

Two members of animal rescue teams were sent into the hole and utilised farm machinery and strops to safely remove the cows.

Throughout the incident, firefighters had gas monitors in the pit to make sure there were no dangerous gases present.

All six cows were rescued and are now recovering.

Animal rescue equipment was attached to the cows to pull them back through the hole. Credit: Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

A statement on the Dorchester Fire Service Facebook page said: "At approximately 12:40 a crew from Dorchester and two animal rescue teams from Poole Fire Station and Weymouth Fire Station were mobilised to reports of six cows trapped in an underground slurry pit.

"Throughout this incident, we had gas monitors in the pit to make sure there were no dangerous gases present.

"Crews got to work by sending two personnel into the pit to attach strops around the cows and with the help from farm machinery we were able to safely remove the cows."

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