Firefighters rescue young foal found helpless down an embankment in Runcorn
'Charlie' was found tangled in nettles
Cheshire Firefighters have rescued a helpless foal that had fallen down an embankment in Runcorn.
They were scrambled to rescue the animal off Eastgate Way, Manor Park.
Workers nearby had spotted the tiny foal at the bottom of an embankment alongside a brook, tangled in nettles.
Firefighters and RSPCA inspectors managed to get 'Charlie' back on her feet and tried to reunite her with what they hoped was her mother.
Heartbreakingly, Charlie was rejected by the horse and there was no one around to care for her. The weather was also blisteringly hot at the time, and the rescue team were concerned that there was no shade, water or food for her.
Firefighter Ben Sanderson said:
“She was so young that she was barely able to walk. We weren’t going to leave her there on her own and we called a vet to meet us at the road so she could immediately be assessed, saving vital time.
“So we took it in turns to carry Charlie across the difficult terrain, all the way back to our fire engine where we cared for her as the vet arrived. It was heartening to see that we were bonding with Charlie and that she gained trust in us. We were getting quite attached to her by then, which made it all the more difficult when the RSPCA and the vet at the scene informed us that it didn’t look good for Charlie and she was going to have to be rushed away for specialist care.”
But a few days later, fire crews received some good news.
Firefighter Sanderson said: “We were all really worried about Charlie and were so relieved to hear that she was a fighter and had recovered from her tragic start in life. What really was the icing on the cake, was to be told that she will now soon have a loving home where she would be cared for and have a fabulous new life.
“In the fire and rescue service our ultimate goal is to save life, and thanks to the team effort and joint working that day that’s exactly what I feel we did.
Rae Andrews World Horse Welfare said:
“We are very glad Charlie was reported to the Fire Service and RSPCA and we were able to transport her to Leahurst Equine Hospital for the urgent care she required being a foal of such a young age. Once the vets were happy for Charlie to travel she was taken to WHW Penny Farm to continue her rehabilitation. She is doing really well and is already a yard favourite. This lovely little filly has a bright future ahead thanks to a brilliant multi agency effort.
“This situation highlights the importance of owners checking their horses daily and closely monitoring any in foal mares.”
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