By Austin L. Miller
Ocala Star-Banner, Fla.
OCALA, Fla. — Marion County Fire Rescue firefighters saved a horse that had fallen into a septic tank on Friday.
According to spokesman James Lucas, around 6:30 p.m., a dispatcher received a call about a horse trapped in the 12000 block of Southeast 47th Avenue in Belleview, and it is unknown how deep the septic tank was.
Firefighters stationed in Belleview drove to the scene and saw the horse, whose name is Buddy Bear, almost submerged in the septic tank. A call was made to the agency’s Special Operations HAZMAT Heavy Rescue 1 and Technical Rescue Team Heavy Rescue 2 teams to assist in getting the 40-year-old animal from the tank.
Rolin Boyd, a driver/engineer, HAZMAT technician who has knowledge about horses, took the lead and directed the rescue crew to use a fire hose as a box cinch to stabilize Buddy Bear. Lucas said technical rescue specialists made a sling that supported the horse’s backside that had an additional section of hose.
The rescue squad was able to position Buddy Bear in the hole and then haul him out of the tank. Lucas said the horse’s veterinarian got to the location on scene and assisted when the rescue was completed. The spokesman said the horse was doing fine following the rescue.
--
(c)2020 the Ocala Star-Banner (Ocala, Fla.)