Cow rescued from rainwater tank after falling through narrow manhole

Firefighters in Eernegem, Belgium, performed a highly unusual rescue operation after a 650-kilogram cow fell into a large rainwater tank. The animal had escaped from a farm and disappeared, leading to a search that ended with its discovery in the underground cistern.

The cow had apparently fallen through a narrow manhole, only 60 centimeters wide, into the 15,000-liter tank. Fortunately, the water level was only about 60 centimeters deep, allowing the cow to remain standing and preventing it from drowning.

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We have never seen anything like it. The manhole was barely large enough for someone to pass through with compressed air.

The local fire department responded to the scene and called for specialized assistance from the Animal Rescue Team (DRT) of Brandweer Westhoek. The team described the incident as one of the most bizarre interventions they have ever encountered, noting the extreme difficulty of accessing the confined space.

"We have never seen anything like it," said Filip Vandenberghe of the DRT team. "The manhole was barely large enough for someone to pass through with compressed air." Despite the challenging circumstances, the cow was unharmed. Using a loading crane provided by the farmer, the rescue team descended into the tank, secured the cow with straps, and carefully hoisted it to safety. The cow's exit from the manhole was described as a cork popping out of a bottle, marking a successful and memorable rescue.

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She even got stuck in the manhole for a moment, but by maneuvering her a bit extra, she suddenly popped out of the hole like a cork from a bottle. A very special intervention.