Woman battles for 3 hours to save her stuck horse from rising
tide.
This is a truly amazing tale that involves a woman, a
horse, and a group of dedicated rescuers on a beach in
Australia.
Nicole Graham holds her horse Astro's head above the
rising tide after he got stuck in the mud.
A woman was out for an afternoon ride with her daughter
when her horse suddenly sunk neck deep into the thick mud of Avalon
Beach in Geelong, Victoria. What followed, reports
Newspix, was a grueling three-hour rescue caught
in photos.
As Nicole Graham held the head of 18-year-old Astro from
drowning in the rising tide, members of the fire department,
emergency services, and a vet attempted to free
the 1,100-pound horse. First they tried using fire hoses, then
a winch. Making little progress, the vet, Stacey Sullivan, sedated
him so that he could be pulled out with a tractor.
Throughout it all, Graham stayed waist high in the mud, calming
the horse through every attempt and holding his nose above the
water. Luckily they were able to pull him clear before the tide
came in.
See the incredible rescue unfold in these
photos.
Members of the fire department and the emergency services try to
free the 1,100 pound horse with fire hoses, then a winch. Making
little progress, vet Stacey Sullivan decides to sedate him and pull
him clear with a tractor.
Astro tries to pull himself out of the mud after his front legs
are clear.
Headed home! Graham and the rescuers lead Astro away from the
beach after he was finally freed of the mud.
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