Horse dies after fall

Police and fire crews were notified of an animal in distress in the Priory Gardens area of the town at around 10.50am last Wednesday.

Two appliances from Larne and a specialist animal rescue crew from Newcastle were dispatched and found the horse trapped upside down at the bottom of a steep grass embankment at the rear of terraced houses.

Rescue workers used harnesses, lines and slings to assist in getting the animal to safety. Despite their efforts, the horse later died from its injuries.

Martin McDonald, Ballymena district station commander told the Larne Times: “It seems the horse had been grazing at the top of the embankment when it fell over and slid down the bank.

“The animal was fully conscious when we arrived, but was lying on its back at a 30 degree angle. We removed part of a fence to gain access and attached slings to the animal to get it upright.

“We could not get the horse back up the embankment, so it was released into a nearby alleyway while we awaited the arrival of a vet.

“Unfortunately there was nothing that could be done to save the animal’s life, and it succumbed to internal injuries sustained during the accident.”

It is understood that the owner of the animal later came and moved other horses in the area to an alternative location.