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Cows pulled from underground slurry pit by fire crews

DWFRS Firefighters lifting a filthy cow out of a hole in the ground using a hoistDWFRS
Farm machinery was used to pull the cows out of the pit

Six cows have been rescued from an underground slurry pit by fire crews in Dorset.

The animals became trapped after falling through an inspection cover on the farm near Tolpuddle on Thursday morning.

Two firefighters had to climb into the pit to attach strops around the cows so they could be lifted to safety.

The animals, which had been trapped for about two hours, were lifted out with the help of farm machinery.

DWFRS Firefighters lifting a filthy cow out of a hole in the ground using a hoistDWFRS
Firefighters climbed into the pit to attach strops to the trapped cows

Fire crews from Dorchester and specialist technical rescue teams from Weymouth and Poole were called to the farm near Water Barn Track at 12:40 GMT.

Gas monitors were used throughout the operation to ensure there were no dangerous gases in the pit.

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