TWO BULLS WERE saved by the RNLI after falling from a cliff into Friesian waters last month.
The Fethard RNLI was about to go training with their neighbours in Kilmore Quay, Wexford, when the lifeboat was tasked to the Broomhill area at Waterford harbour to a report that two bulls had fallen from a cliff.
The lifeboat crew assessed each animal and decided to attempt the dairy-ing rescue as one of the animals was stranded and the tide was coming in. The second bull was 10 feet above the water on rocks further north and was relatively safe at that time.
Crew member Eoin Bird entered the water with a rope, swimming 50 yards in dangerous conditions to reach the animal which had fallen around 15 metres. A halter was placed around its neck and one of the crew held the animal’s head safely above water for the one and a half kilometre journey to Templetown bay in Wexford where it was met by its owner.
Rescue attempt
The volunteer life-bó crew then returned to the scene and saved the second stranded bull.
Fethard RNLI deputy launching authority Hugh Burke said this was a rescue with a difference for the volunteers but he added that the RNLi does train for every type of scenario.
He said: “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 included lifeboat helm John Colfer and crewmembers Eoin Bird and Finola Foley. Shore crew were Thomas Nolan and Tim Bradley.
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