Two cows were moved to safety by Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service after becoming stuck in a four metre slurry pit.

Crews from Bodmin, Wadebridge and St Austell Fire Stations were called to an incident at a farm at Washaway, near Bodmin in the morning of February 11.

Involving the deployment of a number of pumping appliances from Wadebridge and Bodmin, a line rescue unit from Bodmin, a water rescue unit from St Austell, a Group Manager from Truro and a Station Manager from Wadebridge, the bovines were successfully lifted to safety using line rescue systems, inflatable rescue paths and agricultural machinery provided.

A spokesperson for Bodmin Community Fire Station revealed details of the bovine rescue operation, saying: “Yesterday (February 11), three appliances from Bodmin, Wadebridge Community Fire Station, Water Rescue appliances from St Austell Community Fire Station and 2 wholetime officers were mobilised to two cows which were stuck in four metre deep slurry.

Utilising specialist equipment from Bodmin and St Austell along with a tele-handler from the farm with were able to safely remove the cows and reunite them with their herd.”

Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service confirmed further details of the incident, adding: “Pumping appliances from Wadebridge and Bodmin, the line rescue unit from Bodmin, the water rescue unit from St Austell, a Group Manager from Truro and a Station Manager from Wadebridge were mobilised to this incident.

“On arrival, a number of cows were found to be trapped in a slurry pit. The cows were recovered using line rescue systems, inflatable rescue paths and agricultural machinery.”