Lowestoft RNLI Lifeboat crew rescue a deer from rocks
A wild deer that had made its way to the beach at Lowestoft had to be rescued from rocks by the crew of the town’s lifeboat.
The UK Coastguard had been alerted to what was thought to be a dog in the sea near Children’s Corner on Lowestoft South Beach and there was a fear that members of the public would go into the water to try to rescue the stricken animal.
The RNLI lifeguards, who have only recently begun their summer duties patrolling Lowestoft South Beach, were called from the nearby lookout point to check the situation. One quickly cycled to the South Pier and was able to confirm that it was in fact a Muntjac deer on the rocks and unable to escape - and that no people were in the water.
The UK coastguard requested the launch of the Lowestoft RNLI lifeboat, which is moored in the harbour adjacent to the incident, just before midday.
RNLI Coxswain John Fox said 'We arrived at the scene within minutes and could see the deer on the rocks. It wasn’t safe to get the lifeboat any nearer so I took the lifeboat into the shallows on the beach side of the rock armour breakwater and crewmen Ben Arlow and Andy Smith waded from the lifeboat onto the beach and then climbed onto the rocks to where the deer was standing.
When they approached the scared animal it was a bit distressed and yelping. They managed to get hold of it although it was trying to jump out of their arms and run off. The volunteer crewmen managed to wrap the deer in a blanket and then had to move carefully from rock to rock passing it from one to the other before finally wading ashore and taking it along the beach and into the lifeboat station where a sizeable crowd of spectators on the pier gave a cheer at the conclusion of a tricky rescue.'
The Lowestoft and Southwold Coastguard Rescue Team also attended and called the RSPCA to attend to the deer who was bleeding having injured itself whilst on the rocks.
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- Mick Howes, Lowestoft RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer
01502 562488 / 07814 468917 email [email protected] - Clare Hopps RNLI Regional Media Officer (North East & East), Tel 07824 518641 [email protected]
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