Specialist fire crews help to free trapped heifer on farm near Kelso

A 500kg heifer that plunged into a hidden underground Victorian icehouse sparked an extraordinary 11-hour rescue operation on a farm near Kelso on 26 May.

While the cow managed to get through the small hatch, there was no obvious way of removing her from the way she had fallen in.

Specialist resources from across the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service were mobilised to the incident, including Urban Search and Rescue (USAR), one heavy rescue unit and on call firefighters from Kelso Community Fire Station.

During the rescue, a drone from Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue team was lowered on a rope to explore the bunker she had fallen into. This confirmed the presence of an old door which had been bricked up and filled in.

Using a digger from the local farm, the ground was removed to expose the old walls of the building, which then allowed USAR and heavy rescue teams to create space for the cow to climb out to freedom.

The rescue was overseen by owner Tom Baird, estate staff, farm contractors and a local vet. The heifer is back on the farm unscathed and enjoying life again after her underground adventure.

SFRS Group Commander Les Mason said: “I would like to take the opportunity to thank all the fire service personnel and partners that were involved in this rescue, and I am delighted that there was a positive and safe outcome to this incident.

“Specialist resources were mobilised to the farm, and the animal was released following extensive partnership work alongside Tweedy Valley Mountain Rescue, owner Tom Baird, estate workers and farm contractors.

“As a humanitarian organisation, our highly skilled crews answer a wide range of calls to help animals in distress across the country. Our response by trained and equipped firefighters can prevent members of the public from putting themselves in danger by attempting their own rescue. It also means there is a higher chance of the animal being rescued safely.”

Tom Baird, the owner of the heifer who became trapped, said: “A huge thank you to all of the fire service and mountain rescue personnel, estate staff, farm contractors and vets who safely rescued the heifer.

“Their professionalism and training ensured she was rescued safely and is back on the farm with very little sign of what she went through for 11 hours.”