A major rescue operation swung into full force in Keady after five bullocks fell into a slurry tank.
It happened on a farm in the Bachelors Walk area during the early hours of Sunday morning.
Farmer Cedric Crozier said the alarm was raised at around 2.30am.
He told Armagh I on Sunday afternoon: “We had a cow for calving and we were just checking it. My partner heard noises and thought that doesn’t sound right and then went up and she rang me. We saw the small hatch had disappeared off the tank.”
Cedric immediately sprang into action and raised the alarm.
“I knew the Fire Brigade have a specialist team for large animal rescue so we rang them,” he explained.
A specialist team was sent from Animal Rescue, in Newcastle, one of only two such dedicated units in Northern Ireland. Fire personnel attended too from Keady itself.
Other animals were restrained to stop them from dropping into the tank, while the responders used straps and ropes to secure those which had fallen in and safely lift them out.
“They’re well equipped for their job, I’ll have to admit now,” said Cedric. “There must have been nearly 40 people on the scene at one time. They even had a mobile canteen!”
To add to the drama, the cow which had been due to calve did indeed do just that.
And, fortunately, both cow and calf – and the five bullocks who fell into the slurry tank – are now all safe, sound and doing well!
“It was quite a carry on in the middle of it all,” added Cedric. “I’m sure everyone was wondering last night when they saw all the blue lights. It was unbelievable. They had two or three fire engines, an ambulance, the rescue team and two cars and a couple of other appliances up on the roadside.
“I’m sure anyone that was up at that time of the morning was wondering what was going on.”
It took around five hours, from raising the alarm until the last of the emergency responders left the scene.
Cedric and family – for whom this was the first time they had experienced an incident of this nature – are just relieved and grateful that all went well.
“I’d just like to say a personal thank-you for the Fire Service and neighbours who helped, and to the Animal Rescue guys that were in attendance with the fire crews. They did a great job,” added Cedric.
“We certainly cannot thank all enough in the rescue of the animals and we can say all are alive and well.
“Everyone did their part more than well and we’re all very happy with the outcome.”
