Volunteers from the Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) Pakenham Unit were called upon to rescue a horse in the stifling heat in Clyde on Friday 1 March.
Receiving the call for help at 9.30am VICSES volunteers were alerted to a horse trapped in mud at a property in Manks Road.
While it was not known how long the horse had been laying in the mud for, it was believed to have been stuck overnight and was not able to stand up by Friday morning.
With the temperature climbing to a high of 38 degrees, VICSES volunteers battled through the mud and sludge in a five-hour effort to rescue the horse using specialist training and the aid of a local vet to pull the horse to safety.
The horse was freed at 2.30pm and given the tick of approval from the vet soon after.
Pakenham SES media officer Shayne Honey said crew members came away unharmed, despite spending a significant period of time in the difficult conditions.
The horse’s owners were on the scene throughout the whole rescue.
“We aren’t that well known for animal rescues, but shows the different range of skills and conditions we need to train for. The crew really went above and beyond in extreme conditions,” Mr Honey said.
