A LARGE large black bull was rescued from drowning in Tavistock on Monday afternoon.
Two Tavistock crews along with the line rescue team from Camel?s Head and the Tavistock 4X4 Ranger were called to what was originally described as ?a cow in the canal?.
However, sub-officer Tim Smith said on arrival the animal had actually fallen into a nearby flooded quarry and from its head was obviously a bull.
?I?ve never seen such a spirited animal. He had been swimming around for hours and when we arrived was going under. We coaxed him to get his front legs on a log, where he could have a rest,? sub-officer Smith said.
A local vet managed to get a halter on him, and he was then pulled across the water before being allowed another rest. Bales of hay were then used to assist the animal out of the quarry and he was finally dragged to safety. The operation took about two-and-a-half hours.
?He was totally uninjured and started grazing and eyeing-up the cows immediately! He really fought for his life and he seemed to know what we were doing and assisted us,? sub-officer Smith added.
The animal was owned by Bere Ferrers farmer John Dawe.