Bulls rescued by firefighters from overturned cattle lorry
Some 39 bulls have been rescued from an overturned lorry by firefighters.
The rescue operation started in Co Fermanagh, close to the Irish border early on Friday morning.
It took around over three hours to complete the rescue effort on the Cavan Road in Newtownbutler.
Three bulls did not survive.
Firefighters from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) rescued the remaining 39 animals from the overturned articulated cattle lorry.
In a statement the NIFRS said they received an emergency call at 6.22am on Friday about the incident in which one vehicle had been involved.
The service’s Large Animal Rescue Team from Omagh Fire Station as well as fire crews from Lisnaskea and Enniskillen Fire Stations in Co Fermanagh were involved in the rescue.
Firefighters rescued 39 bulls from an overturned articulated cattle lorry on Cavan Road, Newtownbutler, Co. Fermanagh, this morning. For more information https://t.co/rLMKDitbQKpic.twitter.com/OWODcxrNnj
— NIFRS (@NIFRSOFFICIAL) January 11, 2019
In total, there were 42 bulls trapped in the overturned lorry.
“Firefighters stabilised the vehicle and used hydraulic cutting equipment to release 39 bulls assisted by farm workers – three bulls died in the incident,” the NIFRS said in a statement.
The driver of the lorry was described as a man in his 40s. He was treated at the scene by ambulance personnel.
The NIFRS said the rescue operation was completed by 9.49am.
“A local vet also attended the incident. When released, the bulls were contained in a nearby field,” the NIFRS added in its statement.
