Young deer rescued from Solent off south coast by lifeboat crew

An "exhausted" deer was rescued by a lifeboat crew when they found it swimming in the Solent off the south coast of England.

The crew from Cowes RNLI on the Isle of Wight were on a training exercise when they spotted the young deer swimming in the Solent.

The deer, a Muntjac often found in the New Forest, had apparently been carried around three miles across the Solent by the tide, ending up off Princes Green in Cowes.

The crew retrieved the deer from the water and wrapped it in a blanket before taking it back to their lifeboat station where they kept it in the shower room until it was collected by the RSPCA.

Lifeboat helm Myles Hussey said: "To say we were surprised was an under-statement. Even the Coastguard had to be told three times before they believed us!”

Read more: Woman's body pulled from sea on busy Devon beach packed with holidaymakers

"It was quite exhausted and cold when we got it over the stern of the boat.

"A member of our crew, Felicity Elliott, a doctor at Newport’s St Mary’s Hospital, then quickly wrapped it in a blanket."

Back at the lifeboat station, the crew gave the deer a drink and wrapped it in another blanket while they waited it being picked up by the RSPCA.

"I always wanted to rescue a dog, but instead it was a deer,” added Hussey.

"And because of the tide at the time we named the youngster Ebbing."

Watch: Dog seat belts are a thing