Large Animal Rescue in Thornbury Township
 
By Watchdesk
October 5, 2016
 

This morning WCFD Chief 53 (McDonald) was notified of a special request for assistance at a local farm. Reports were that a large horse was stuck in a muddy hole and was in need of help getting out. He alerted Station 53 personnel to standby on station while he assessed the scene. He quickly realized that the resources and personnel from the Chester County Rescue Task Force would be needed to extricate the animal from the hole.

An 18 year old, seventeen hundred pound Clydesdale named Cyrus, had been reported missing to local police early in the morning. Police and farm staff found the horse in a remote section of the farm. Police requested assistance from the West Chester Fire Department. Crews from Station 53 arrived with the trench and collapse trailers, but additional trench personnel were required to bring this incident to a successful close. Fame personnel along with Rescue TF personnel from Stations 47 (Lionville), 35 (Wagontown), 38 (Thorndale), 25 (Longwood), 68 (Valley Forge) and 64 (Norco) were dispatched to assist. Station 55 (Good Fellowship EMS) provided rehab and EMS standby for crews operating. The Chester County Animal Rescue Team and West Chester Fire Police also assisted.

A special veterinary team from the Unionville Equine Associates responded to provide care for the Cyrus. Once veterinarians sedated the horse, special slings were worked underneath him and attached to a hauling system. CCRTF personnel, working closely with the veterinary medical team, utilized an air knife along with hands and shovels, to free Cyrus from his muddy confines. A crane had been brought to the scene and was used to hoist the horse to an open area where the veterinary team continued their care. The rescue took nearly five hours to complete and we are very happy to report that Cyrus is able to walk on his own and eating well.

Check out our Facebook page for photos of the rescue.

Also, see Philadelphia news coverage of this incident;
6ABC
http://6abc.com/1540285/


Fox 29
http://www.fox29.com/news/local-news/209780317-story
 
Units: Rescue 53, Squad 53-Trench 53, Utility 53-Collapse 53
 
Mutual Aid: Stations 25, 35, 38, 47, 64 and 68
 
Cyrus being attended to by the veterinary team.
Cyrus being attended to by the veterinary team.
Fame and Chester County Rescue Task Force firefighters and technicians working hard to secure a sling around Cyrus.
Fame and Chester County Rescue Task Force firefighters and technicians working hard to secure a sling around Cyrus.
 
All out effort by Fame and Rescue Task Force personnel to rescue Cyrus.
All out effort by Fame and Rescue Task Force personnel to rescue Cyrus.