Firefighters rescue lamb from mud in IJzer river; two cows freed last week

In the Belgian village of Stavele, firefighters successfully rescued a lamb that had become trapped in the muddy banks of the IJzer river. The operation required the use of a specialized floating platform to safely reach the distressed animal.

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I saw the little sheep suddenly stuck in the mud of a small side branch of the IJzer. The animal could not get out on its own.

Witnesses Claude Demuynck and Sébastien Trombetta, who were fishing nearby, spotted the lamb struggling in the mud along a small tributary of the IJzer. Recognizing the animal's inability to free itself, Trombetta, who is also a firefighter, contacted his colleagues from Brandweer Westhoek.

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I am a firefighter and called the colleagues from Brandweer Westhoek.

Lieutenant Daan Vandenbussche of the fire department explained that their standard equipment was insufficient for the rescue. Consequently, they requested assistance from the specialized animal rescue team. Using an inflatable floating platform, firefighters were able to bridge the treacherous marshy ground and reach the young sheep.

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With our equipment, it was not possible to reach the animal.

Captain Filip Vandenberghe of the animal rescue team reported that once they reached the lamb, the process was smooth. They cleaned the male lamb and returned it to its pasture with the other sheep. The team is also attempting to contact the farmer to ensure the animals have adequate water supplies. This incident is part of a growing concern, as firefighters noted they had to rescue two cows in Stavele just last week, attributing these frequent entrapments to dry weather conditions driving animals further in search of water.

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Using an inflated, floating platform, some firefighters could bridge the marshy ground to reach the young animal.