Rescue operation mounted after horse falls in to river

Fire crewws were called to Luddednde Foot after a horse fell in the River Calder.
By The Newsroom
Published 21st Aug 2014, 14:14 BST
Gypsy the horse was rescued from the River Calder in Luddenden Foot by firefighters from BrighouseGypsy the horse was rescued from the River Calder in Luddenden Foot by firefighters from Brighouse
Gypsy the horse was rescued from the River Calder in Luddenden Foot by firefighters from Brighouse

Specialist divers from Brighouse Fire Station were called to the incident at the Brearley Lane section of the river at 9.30am yesterday (Wednesday).

Fire crews believe the 14-year-old horse, who is called Gypsy, fell into the river after becoming a little bit curious and walking too close to the edge. Gypsy, who had escaped from a field adjacent to the river, suffered a minor graze to its back leg and a vet said it was otherwise in good health.

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Watch commander Jimmy Johnstone, of Brighouse Fire Station, said: “When we got there we found it just basically stood up eating grass in the river.”

Gypsy the horse was rescued from the River Calder in Luddenden Foot by firefighters from BrighouseGypsy the horse was rescued from the River Calder in Luddenden Foot by firefighters from Brighouse
Gypsy the horse was rescued from the River Calder in Luddenden Foot by firefighters from Brighouse

A firefighter in full aqua suit attempted to guide Gypsy down the river to a wear on Brearley Road, but the horse refused.

Soon after Gypsy’s owner arrived with a harness and three firefighters in full aqua suits guided the horse around half a mile to some steps, but again the horse refused to go up them. At that point firefighters cleared some vegetation at the other side of the river and Gypsy walked to freedom.

In total the crew were at the scene for an hour and a half.

The police and a technical rescue office also attended.