A Sheep that sank into a five-foot pit of mud was saved in an ingenious rescue involving a fork lift truck.

The farmer feared he’d lose the terrified animal after it sank up to its neck in slurry.

The 59-year-old put a halter round the sheep’s neck and hooked it up to his fork lift truck, in a desperate bid to pull it out. When that didn’t work, he called in the Islands fire brigade to his farm at West Lane, near Ashey.

By the time the fire services from Ryde and Newport arrived the sheep’s head had briefly slipped under the surface, but soon popped its head up again, spurting up mud “like a dolphin” as it gulped for air, one said one fire-fighter.

Crews had planned to laid three inflatable ‘paths’ using specialist equipment similar to lilos, which allow firefighters to travel over ice, mud and water.

But the farmer had used the forklift truck to haul the exhausted 14-month-old sheep to freedom.

A spokesman for Isle of Wight fire and rescue service, said: “Thanks to the swift actions of all involved the animal is now safe and well.”

Crews from Ryde and Newport were scrambled along with the Specialist Rescue tender from Newport at 12.12pm on today(Wednesday December 29) to West Lane.

The farmer,who keeps an 150-strong herd, spoke of his relief as he led the sheep into the farm to be checked. He said: “I was shaking afterwards. I’m so grateful.”

The Sheep was left trembling with the trauma and must now be kept in a shed for a few days. I have called in the vet to have her checked over.

But it’s not all good news for the animal – which will be sold for lamb, as planned, at the end of the year.

Breaking Island news as it happens

Location:West Lane,Nunwell, Isle of Wight,United Kingdom

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