While stranger things have happened at sea, the RNLI Dart inshore lifeboat team yesterday turned their hands to a spot of cattle herding.
The had steer climbed onto a ledge after falling 20m into the sea (pic: RNLI/John Fenton)
The Dart lifeboat was launched after local fishermen Steve Parker and Anthony Green on Emily Grace spotted a six-month-old white steer that had fallen 20m from cliffs into the sea west of Compass Cove. The animal had then scrambled onto a ledge at the foot of the cliffs.
Once the lifeboat arrived at the scene, farmer Norman Easley climbed onto the ledge to attach a rope to the steer. However, the little steer was “having none of it,” according to the RNLI, and dived back into the sea. It then tried to escape into a small cave and became wedged.
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At that point, lifeboat crewman Chris Tracey dived into the sea and with the help of the lifeboat crew pulled it from the cave. Tracey guided it alongside the fishing boat where a rope was secured by Farmer Easley and the steer was guided 200m to shore.
The steer was coaxed 200m to the beach (pic: RNLI/John Fenton)
The lifeboat crew then helped Farmer Easley coax the steer up very steep wooden steps from the beach to safer ground above in front of numerous onlookers.
The final step was getting the distressed animal up steep steps from the beach (pic: RNLI/John Fenton)