A BULLOCK was given a fireman’s lift to safety after he fell 40ft into a moat around Fort Borstal at Rochester.

Fire and rescue officers took the young bull by the horns and attached a sling normally used in cliff rescues around his body, to winch him out at on Wednesday afternoon.

The operation began on Tuesday night, when the emergency crews were alerted to the animal’s plight.

Darren Jenner, from Strood, who is station manager at Thanet Fire Station, co-ordinated the operation. He said: “We cleared an access to the moat, but darkness made it too dangerous to carry out the lift.

“As the bullock did not seem too distressed we decided to rescue it the following day.

“An animal rescue unit from Crowborough in East Sussex came up with their specialist lifting gear and we used cliff rescue equipment from Deal.

“The moat is about 40ft deep with sheer concrete sides so there is no way we could have rescued it without the right equipment.”

He added: “It was a good example of how different sections of the fire service can work together and help one another out. And of course this would have been the same if it had been a person in distress, so it was good practice for us.”

The Simental cross suckler was carried in its harness to a neighbouring field, where it was reunited with its mother and the rest of the 40-strong herd. It appeared to be none the worse for its experience.

Andrew Markey, who runs the Borstal Prison farm, said: “The fire service has been absolutely excellent, first class.

“I telephoned them just to get advice on how to get the animal out, but they arrived very quickly and did a really professional job.”