Firefighters rescue calf from Thatcham lock

Blue Watch manager at Newbury Fire Station, Lee Glover, said one fire engine from Newbury Fire Station and another from Caversham Road in Reading, plus a special rescue crew from Caversham, a total of around 15 firefighters, were called at 7.32am to a lock next to Thatcham Railway Station, close to the level crossing which is known locally as Monkey Puzzle Lock.
“The cows were in a field next to the lock, but had broken the fence around the field and this calf had got into the lock,” said Mr Glover.
The calf was discovered on a ledge in about 18 inches of water and occasionally swimming around, before getting back onto the ledge.
However the rescue operation stepped up a notch after it was realised the calf was suffering from the cold temperature in the water and had started to shake.
”We had a plan but it became a bit critical as the animal started to suffer from hypothermia, so we tied a line around him and pulled him out of the lock,” said Mr Glover. He added: “We got it out, rubbed it and kept it warm and when we left it was feeding from its mum in the field, after the mother and calf were reunited.”
Mr Glover said the farmer, or owner, of the cows turned up shortly after the firefighters arrived at the scene.
”He had no idea there was a calf in the lock until we told him,” said Mr Glover.
The incident was closed after about an hour.