As Horsham District Council wardens carried out their routine welfare check on livestock at Warnham Local Nature Reserve near Horsham yesterday evening (11 July), it was discovered that one of their British White cows had strayed into Boldings Brook at the site and got stuck in the mud up to its shoulders.
Hampshire Specialist Fire and Rescue Service attended the scene along with support from Sussex Fire and Rescue officers and a vet.
After a three-hour rescue operation the cow was freed from the river and given precautionary steroids and antibiotics.
The ten year old cow is now safe and sound on dry land at the Reserve.
Thanks go out to the rescue crews and council wardens for working through the night.