Fethard RNLI rescue cattle from the sea after animals fall from cliff
In an unusual callout for Fethard RNLI recently, the volunteer lifeboat crew came to the aid of two bulls that had fallen from cliffs in the Broomhill area.
. In difficult conditions with an incoming tide and a large sea swell the two animals in distress were brought to safety by the incredible efforts of the lifeboat crew on the day.
Fethard RNLI was already out on the morning the call for assistance came in to the lifeboat station. The crew were about to go on exercise with their neighbours in Kilmore Quay RNLI Friday (24 February) when at 10:45am the lifeboat was tasked to the Broomhill area at Waterford harbour to a report of two bulls that had fallen from a cliff.
Fethard lifeboat was launched from Duncannon and on scene at Broomhill by 11.20am. The lifeboat crew assessed each animal and decided to attempt a rescue as one was stranded in the gully with the incoming tide. The second animal was 10 feet above the water on rocks further north and was relatively safe at that time.
The helm veered the lifeboat down into the gully and crew member Eoin Bird entered the water with a rope, swimming 50 yards in dangerous and difficult conditions to reach the stranded animal that had fallen approximately 15 metres. Eoin made a halter and placed it around the animal. He then swam back to the lifeboat which then towed the animal clear of the rocks. The animal was brought alongside the lifeboat and one of the crew held its head safely above water for the one and a half kilometre journey to Templetown bay where it was safely landed ashore to be taken into the care of the owner.
The volunteer lifeboat crew then returned to the scene where a halter and rope had already been placed on the second animal ready to recover it. Fethard lifeboat then towed the animal off the rocks and brought it ashore to the waiting owner.
Commenting on the callout Fethard RNLI Deputy Launching Authority Hugh Burke said, ‘This was a rescue with a difference for our volunteers but we do train for every type of scenario. Nobody wants to see animals in distress or difficulty and we are happy to launch to bring them to safety. Conditions on the day were fairly lively with a two metre swell. The rescue involved excellent boat handling by our lifeboat Helm John Colfer and great work by Eoin and Finola to bring the two animals to safety. It was one we won’t forget in a hurry.’
The crew on the day were Lifeboat helm John Colfer and crewmembers Eoin Bird and Finola Foley. Shore crew were Thomas Nolan and Tim Bradley.
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