PICTURES: Horse rescued from ditch

An elderly horse, named Finigan, that became stuck in a ditch near Littlehampton this morning has been lifted to safety by Fire and Rescue.
Horse rescued from ditch in Wick           Photo: Eddie MitchellHorse rescued from ditch in Wick           Photo: Eddie Mitchell
Horse rescued from ditch in Wick Photo: Eddie Mitchell

At 10.30am, a Fire and Rescue crew from Bognor and a technical rescue unit (TRU) were called to tend to a 23-year-old horse stuck in a ditch in Woodcote Lane, Wick.

Initially, the public tried to help release the horse from the water that was reportedly up to its shoulders, but were unsuccessful.

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Lee Street, Fire and Rescue Deputy District Commander for Arun east, said: “I was the first one there. There were members of the public holding onto the bridle. The horse had been in there for at least an hour before we arrived.”

The team split into two – a water rescue team and a land-based team.

A raft was used to allow a vet to sedate the horse, before a harness was attached to it.

A crane was then used to lift the horse to safety.

The rescue took about an hour and 45 minutes.

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Lee said: “I’d like to thank the public for their support.

“It was a very successful rescue.”

The TRU team later Tweeted that Finigan was reunited with his owner following his ‘watery adventure’.

All photos by Eddie Mitchell.

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