Five-hour battle to save horse in Darwen (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Five-hour battle to save horse in Darwen

11:28am Wednesday 17th March 2010 in

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FIREFIGHTERS spent five hours digging a horse out of a 10ft well on farmland near Darwen.

Three crews and a rope rescue team were called to Lower Waterside Farm, Johnson New Road, in Waterside, just after 10am on Friday.

Kevin Birtwell of Darwen Fire Station, said: “The horse was trapped due to the depth, the confined space, and also the suction caused by the slurry.

“With the help of a mechanical digger and shovels we began digging away at the side of the well.

"The intention was to create a ramp and a hole in the side so the animal could try to get out, or we could drag it out.

“The sides of the well had to be removed brick by brick.

"After five hours of rescue work the animal was dragged out by using a mechanical winch, lines, strops and sheer brute force.”

The horse eventually got to its feet and was checked over by a vet.