Originallly posted Sat, 2009-11-07 01:47
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Courtesy photo/Randy Wright of NSB Fire Dept. Difficult to see because of darkness, this horse was rescued Nov. 5, a Thursday night, from a muddy hole by New Smyrna Beach firefighters, a veterinarian and a tow truck operator.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A horse stuck in a muddy hole late Thursday night was rescued by firefighters, a veterinarian and her staff and a tow wrecker, at the Matava Family Farm, 225 Sugar Mill Road, a fire official said.
Upon arrival at 11:31 p.m., New Smyrna Beach Fire Department units found a horse stuck in a wetland/cypress head type area. The animal was stuck/entrapped in the mud and water.
The commander on the scene, Battalion Chief Andy West, called for additional assistance which included; a heavy wrecker from Bishop’s Wrecker Service, veterinarian Dr. Cindy Merrick, her associate Jill Getty; and Tom Smith a heavy equipment operator.
Fire Department spokesman and Division Chief Randy Wright gave the following summary of action taken: "Rescuers utilized a tow cable from the wrecker that was stretched above the horse and across to a pine tree and tied off. The NSBFD employed the use of its high angle rescue rope equipment and rigged a lifting unit with pulleys and blocks and attached the rig to the cable. Using a horse lifting harness provided by Dr. Merrick and Jill Getty, the horse was lifted out of the muddy hole. This operation took several hours to accomplish. The horse was moved incrementally due to many factors including the weight of the animal, limited access, snags, stumps, and felled trees (some were cut for access) in the immediate area. Without the special lifting harness provided by the doctor we believe the horse would have sustained injury. Dr. Merrick continually evaluated the horse during the entire operation."
"Crystal," owned by Lisa Comko, was doing fine in her recovery Friday, Wright said.