Thirteen cows rescued after being stranded at sea

A herd of cows has been rescued from the sea in Jersey after they were cut off by the tide, firefighters have said.

Jersey Fire and Rescue Service said crews were called to the sea at Grouville Bay at about 06:40 GMT.

It said there were 14 cows in the water - including some found 300m (984ft) offshore - but one did not survive.

One witness described the rescue operation, which also involved crews from the RNLI, as a "miracle".

Jersey's Animal Health and Welfare Team said the rescue was a "joint effort" involving themselves, several farmers, Jersey Coastguard, members of the public and others.

It said five of the cows showed "signs of hypothermia", adding that "secondary health complications such as pneumonia" could not be ruled out yet, but all the animals were "now under veterinary care".

The fire service said on X: "The cows appear to have walked along the beach and, when their safe exit was cut off by the high tide, they swam out to sea.

"Some of the animals had been blown by the wind and were approximately 300m offshore.

"Sadly, one did not survive. Its body was returned to the beach."

Firefighters said they worked with the RNLI to rescue the animals by fastening ropes around their necks and then towing them into shore at Le Hurel.

"The farmer and Grouville Centenier were on scene," the service said.

Former Deputy Jackie Hilton-Egre, who saw the operation unfold, told BBC Radio Jersey: "They had probably been in the water quite a long time so it's a miracle that the RNLI managed to get four out of the water alive.

"To see the cows out at sea was really quite upsetting. We overlook the beach and we saw four cows being rescued by the brilliant RNLI.

"The RNLI brought in two to start with, brought them on to the beach and they have been there ever since."

The former deputy and her husband, Ted Egre, brought duvets and anything they could find from their house, including their dressing gowns, to keep the animals warm.

"I couldn't bear the thought of something going wrong because it had frozen to death," she said.

"It's been really quite stressful.

"I just pray they all survive and I can't imagine what it was like for them being swept out to sea, it must have been absolutely terrifying."

Craig Channing, duty station commander for Jersey Fire and Rescue, praised the members of the public who came to the cows aid.

"The community of Jersey comes together and we could not have done it on our own," he said.

"To have the RNLI and Jersey Coastguard with us was instrumental, but seeing the members of the public - there's quite a few houses on that east coast - to get them to come out with duvets, with blankets, anything to keep warm was a really good feeling with us and it really helps us."

Search mission co-ordinator for Jersey Coastguard, Robin Fitzgerald, added: "Emotion doesn't kick in until after the incident when you sit down and settle.

"You realise what you have done and it was great to be able to rescue those cows, to be honest.

"But it was not very nice watching them struggle - I don't think they realised the situation they had put themselves into."

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