Firefighters rescue sheep stranded for week near Brecon

At 9.46am on Monday, August 25, the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service crew from Brecon Fire Station was called to an incident near Capel Isaf in Brecon.

The crew responded following reports of a sheep that had been stranded on an island in the middle of a pond for a week. 

The sheep was rescued after being stranded for a week near Brecon (Image: Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service) The pond was surrounded by water and very deep, boggy ground. Due to the boggy ground and its associated risks, it was decided that no crew members would enter the water.

The crew formulated a plan to coax the sheep onto the inflatable wading sled with some sheep feed on it.

The crew utilised the inflatable wading sled, lines, chimney rods and a telescopic reach pole which highlights their quick thinking and improvisation skills, as well as excellent communication skills to bring the sheep back to safety.

The sheep was rescued after being stranded for a week near Brecon. (Image: Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service) “On the first attempt, we didn’t get quite close enough and although the sheep showed interest it quickly went out of its depth to step onto the sled,” said station manager Simon Prince.

“We readjusted our equipment and managed to push the sled further towards the sheep and eventually it got onto the sled, and we gently dragged the sled with the sheep back to hard standing and back into the field.

“This highlighted great communication and teamwork, and improvisation of equipment minimising any risk to the crew.”

Watch a video of the incident here.