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20 October 2023
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Pregnant horse, trapped in drain in Pacaltsdorp on the Garden Route, rescued
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A pregnant mare was trapped inside a hole behind a municipal storm water drain in Pacaltsdorp in George on Monday, 23 October 2023. Mud was making it impossible for the horse to get out by itself. Divisional Commander Johan Brand of George Fire Department, said, “We received the callout at 08h20. Vehicles that responded included E2, BP1 and BP6 (one fire engine and two light fire trucks) with crew including Platoon Commander M Troskie, Senior Fire Fighter A Ningi, Fire Fighter J Fortuin, Junior Fire Fighter K Johnson, Junior Fire Fighter G Claasen. SPCA had three crew and George Municipality responded with a JCB and crew.”
The public of Pacaltsdorp also assisted.
Brand added, “Having the mare safely removed from the hole was a difficult task as we had to keep in mind that the mare was pregnant and that any wrong pressure placed on the mare could seriously injure the mare or her baby. Straps were tied just below the belly of the mare and just behind the front legs above the chest. The straps where then connected to the JCB and the mare was lifted out. This had to be carefully done, not to injure the mare. Before we were able to lift the mare out safely, most of the mud had to be removed from the sides of the mare to free the mare enough to be lifted out. A concrete slab of the storm drain was halfway covering the mare and also had to be removed. Blankets were used to cover the straps to prevent the straps from cutting into her before we could lift her out.”
“To our knowledge, the mare did not sustain any serious injuries. The municipal storm water drain, and sidewalk were damaged during the rescue.”
“Challenges faced: It was quite a challenge to remove the mare because of the pregnancy. Time was also an important factor, as the mare was covered in cold mud, which could have caused further medical complications. The mud also created the risk of fracturing a leg if the mare was lifted out in the wrong direction or too fast. We had to also deal with underground electrical wiring and a wall that could collapse if too much soil were to be removed”, said Brand.
The mare was safely rescued at 11h17.
Garden Route SPCA said, “Our team received a distress call about a horse trapped in a drain in Pacaltsdorp. What we initially thought would be a straightforward rescue proved to be much more complex. This brave mare was not only heavy pregnancy but also mired in mud. Huge shoutout to Patrick from George Municipality the JCB operator and the incredible Fire Department for their swift response and invaluable assistance. We couldn't have done it without you! A special thanks goes out to Stone Cold Transport for generously donating a load of G7, helping to solidify the mud and create a safer path for our pregnant friend. And a huge thank you to the community who all assisted us. The rescue mission was no small feat, but thanks to the incredible teamwork, dedication, and hard work of everyone involved, this brave horse is now safe and sound. It took us three hours, but the smiles on all our faces make every second worth it. A massive thank you to our community for rallying together and showing compassion for our four-legged friends in need.”
Sources: Divisional Commander Johan Brand, George Fire Department, Garden Route SPCA
The public of Pacaltsdorp also assisted.
Brand added, “Having the mare safely removed from the hole was a difficult task as we had to keep in mind that the mare was pregnant and that any wrong pressure placed on the mare could seriously injure the mare or her baby. Straps were tied just below the belly of the mare and just behind the front legs above the chest. The straps where then connected to the JCB and the mare was lifted out. This had to be carefully done, not to injure the mare. Before we were able to lift the mare out safely, most of the mud had to be removed from the sides of the mare to free the mare enough to be lifted out. A concrete slab of the storm drain was halfway covering the mare and also had to be removed. Blankets were used to cover the straps to prevent the straps from cutting into her before we could lift her out.”
“To our knowledge, the mare did not sustain any serious injuries. The municipal storm water drain, and sidewalk were damaged during the rescue.”
“Challenges faced: It was quite a challenge to remove the mare because of the pregnancy. Time was also an important factor, as the mare was covered in cold mud, which could have caused further medical complications. The mud also created the risk of fracturing a leg if the mare was lifted out in the wrong direction or too fast. We had to also deal with underground electrical wiring and a wall that could collapse if too much soil were to be removed”, said Brand.
The mare was safely rescued at 11h17.
Garden Route SPCA said, “Our team received a distress call about a horse trapped in a drain in Pacaltsdorp. What we initially thought would be a straightforward rescue proved to be much more complex. This brave mare was not only heavy pregnancy but also mired in mud. Huge shoutout to Patrick from George Municipality the JCB operator and the incredible Fire Department for their swift response and invaluable assistance. We couldn't have done it without you! A special thanks goes out to Stone Cold Transport for generously donating a load of G7, helping to solidify the mud and create a safer path for our pregnant friend. And a huge thank you to the community who all assisted us. The rescue mission was no small feat, but thanks to the incredible teamwork, dedication, and hard work of everyone involved, this brave horse is now safe and sound. It took us three hours, but the smiles on all our faces make every second worth it. A massive thank you to our community for rallying together and showing compassion for our four-legged friends in need.”
Sources: Divisional Commander Johan Brand, George Fire Department, Garden Route SPCA