Rupert was rescued by a team of firefighters from the Technical Rescue Unit, who used a rescue basket to lift him out of the ditch.
Rupert the Horse’s Ditch Rescue
A Close Call for Rupert
Rupert, a horse, found himself in a precarious situation when he fell into a ditch by the side of a bridleway in Henfield, West Sussex. The incident occurred on a day when the West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service was considering scrapping its Technical Rescue Unit.
The incident was reported to the RSPCA.
The Unfortunate Incident
The incident occurred on a sunny Saturday afternoon in late April. Darren and Rupert were out riding in the countryside, enjoying the beautiful scenery and each other’s company. However, their peaceful ride was disrupted by another horse getting spooked. The sudden movement caused Rupert to lose his balance and step into a ditch, resulting in Darren falling on his side and getting stuck.
The Response
Rupert was in a precarious position, with his legs tangled in the fence and his body pinned beneath a heavy load of hay.
The Rescue Effort
The rescue team, led by Captain James, assessed the situation and determined that Rupert needed to be carefully extracted to avoid causing further injury. The team worked together to create a makeshift pulley system using ropes and wooden beams to lift Rupert out of the ditch. The rescue effort required a combination of technical expertise and physical strength. The team had to navigate the challenging terrain and ensure that Rupert was lifted safely and efficiently.
“This could become the norm.” In 1999, The Argus previously covered when Rupert was winched out of a sticky situation in Hickstead when he fell into a river aged four. A spokeswoman for West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said: “We are currently undertaking a review of our Technical Rescue Unit as part of our specialist capability review – a commitment within our community risk management plan. “Any changes will be aligned to the risks within the county, with data being used to make informed decisions. “Although attending animal rescues is not a statutory duty for fire and rescue services, it is a service we always try to facilitate where possible.
“This includes engaging with control rooms across the country to use borderless mobilising to ensure the next nearest or quickest resource is sent to deal with the incident.”
