FIREFIGHTERS rescued a calf after it got stuck in a drainage tunnel this morning (Monday, June 27).
The animal entered the tunnel from a farmer’s field in Newbiggin in Upper Teesdale, County Durham, and managed to venture about 20ft inside before getting stuck.
Firefighters were alerted to the incident shortly after 8am and initially one crew from Middleton-in-Teesdale was sent.
They were later joined by another crew and a special rescue unit from Bishop Auckland, all of which are trained in animal rescue.
By this point a vet had managed to sedate the calf and firefighters used manoeuvring equipment to free it.
Station manager Paul Cummings, of County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, said: “The farmer said this had never happened before. The tunnel goes under a road and only measures about 3ft by 4ft. The calf got about 20ft along before it got completely stuck. Thankfully we were able to free it and the vet confirmed it was okay. It was up and about when we left.”