The SES volunteers from Moruya and Batemans Bay recently responded to an unusual rescue on the Far South Coast when a horse fell into a septic tank on a local property. The incident occurred after a concrete lid over the tank collapsed under the horse’s weight. Despite the challenge posed by the animal’s size, weighing between 400 to 500 kilograms, the rescue team safely lifted the horse out using an excavator, as the pit was only about 1.5 meters deep.

Eurobodalla Controller Peter Collins highlighted that the SES has specialized personnel and equipment for large animal rescues, handling around four to five such cases annually. Following the rescue, a veterinarian examined the horse and confirmed it was unharmed, marking a successful outcome for both the animal and the rescuers.