23/4/200822 fire fighters in cow river rescue
By WENDY MILLER
A TOTAL of 22 firefighters and four fire engines were needed to rescue a Highland cow in Glasgow.
Park rangers at Pollok Country Park raised the alarm after finding one of their more mature bovine guests had got herself into some deep trouble.
The mission to return Karene to dry land only took 22 firefighters, four fire engines and nearly two and a half hours.
Somehow Karene, a 15-year-old dun-coloured Highlander, was trapped in the White Cart Water just after 8pm last night.
Initially, it looked like it would be a straight-forward rescue involving two fire crews and a rope. But the weight of the creature made it impossible.
Plan B, using specialist pulling equipment to winch her back to safety, was also a non-starter.
After much 'mooing and fro-ing' they decided to call in reinforcements.
Two fire engines from Renfrew were then called in, along with the unit's swift water rescue unit.
A 4x4 vehicle finally managed to get her to dry land after over 2hrs.
A Pollok Fire Station spokesman said: "Well it was a wee bit of excitement for the nightshift. It took two and a quarter hours to get the cow out. But they got there in the end.
I haven't heard how the clean-up
operation went!
"It's not uncommon for us to get animal rescues. However it's not very often we get cows falling into rivers."
Marilyn Muir acting manager of Pollok Country Park, said: "This is the first time we have had a cow stuck in the river.
"It looks like Karene might have gone to the river for a drink and ended up stuck.
"She is one of our matriarchs - old enough to know better! She definitely owes her life to the fire brigade. We really can't thank them enough for all their efforts.
"She was exhausted last night by the time she was finally freed. This morning she seems absolutely fine. She is out grazing in one of the fields. We are just going to keep a close eyes on her and make sure she is okay." Pollok Country Park has around 100 Highlanders, making it a hugely popular visitor attraction.
wendy.miller@eveningtimes.co.uk
A TOTAL of 22 firefighters and four fire engines were needed to rescue a Highland cow in Glasgow.
Park rangers at Pollok Country Park raised the alarm after finding one of their more mature bovine guests had got herself into some deep trouble.
The mission to return Karene to dry land only took 22 firefighters, four fire engines and nearly two and a half hours.
Somehow Karene, a 15-year-old dun-coloured Highlander, was trapped in the White Cart Water just after 8pm last night.
Initially, it looked like it would be a straight-forward rescue involving two fire crews and a rope. But the weight of the creature made it impossible.
Plan B, using specialist pulling equipment to winch her back to safety, was also a non-starter.
After much 'mooing and fro-ing' they decided to call in reinforcements.
Two fire engines from Renfrew were then called in, along with the unit's swift water rescue unit.
A 4x4 vehicle finally managed to get her to dry land after over 2hrs.
A Pollok Fire Station spokesman said: "Well it was a wee bit of excitement for the nightshift. It took two and a quarter hours to get the cow out. But they got there in the end.
I haven't heard how the clean-up
operation went!
"It's not uncommon for us to get animal rescues. However it's not very often we get cows falling into rivers."
Marilyn Muir acting manager of Pollok Country Park, said: "This is the first time we have had a cow stuck in the river.
"It looks like Karene might have gone to the river for a drink and ended up stuck.
"She is one of our matriarchs - old enough to know better! She definitely owes her life to the fire brigade. We really can't thank them enough for all their efforts.
"She was exhausted last night by the time she was finally freed. This morning she seems absolutely fine. She is out grazing in one of the fields. We are just going to keep a close eyes on her and make sure she is okay." Pollok Country Park has around 100 Highlanders, making it a hugely popular visitor attraction.
wendy.miller@eveningtimes.co.uk