Lambs found alive by firefighters after days trapped in mineshaft

A number of lambs which had blundered into a disused mineshaft have been rescued by firefighters.
By Adam Kula
Published 28th Mar 2021, 11:21 BST
Some of the rescued lambsSome of the rescued lambs
Some of the rescued lambs

The drama onfolded at about 6.30pm on Friday, when the fire brigade was called by a farmer whose lambs had gone missing.

They had not been seen for three days.

The NI Fire and Rescue Service said the incident happened at the Cushendall Road, to the north-east of Ballymena

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In a statement is said: “Crews from Ballymoney station and the Specialist Rescue Team worked with the farm owner to rescue the lambs, using gas monitors and rope rescue equipment.

“A Firefighter entered the 12-metre shaft and retrieved the lambs, returning them safely to their grateful owners. The incident concluded at 19:46 hours.

“NIFRS would like to thank the lambs’ owners for showing restraint, not entering the mine shaft without proper equipment and calling the emergency services to perform the rescue.

“We would like to remind the public of the dangers of entering disused mines or sub surface work areas and advise people never to enter such locations.”

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It issued the above pictures of the lambs (no caption details for the women holding them).

Read more from this reporter:

Click here: ‘Banishing Covid restrictions completely may take years – it could become an annual winter virus’

Click here: Twenty-five NI groups sign letter to Robin Swann about ‘women and pregnant people’

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Related topics:Ballymena