An Animal Rescue Officer (ARO) in Wales has been hailed a “hero” for saving a stranded ewe with one hand whilst abseiling 30m down the side of the Great Orme.
ARO Dean Wilkins was descending down the north Wales cliff edge when the Herwick sheep in need went to jump – and would have plunged to her death – when he grabbed her with one hand until help arrived from his colleague, Mike Pugh.
The pair then managed to safely contain the ewe and abseil to a wider ledge about 5m down below where they could place her in a bag. The officers then had another 6/7m to descend to the ground, where the relieved owner of the sheep was waiting.
Watch the dramatic moment below.
“I’ve been doing these sorts of rescues with the team for about three years but this was the first time I had actually physically caught the animal,” said Dean.
“Given the narrow ledge the ewe was on, we approached extremely cautiously so as not to spook her, but seconds after I had got hold of her she jumped and I suddenly found myself clinging onto her woolly coat with one hand.
“Everything just happened really fast, although I do remember thinking that I couldn’t hold on for much longer and was super relieved when Mike got down to help.”
Mike, a Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) inspector, felt the heat when on his way down.
“Once Dean had got hold of her and she became airborne, the pressure was then on me to get to them as quickly as possible,” he said.
“This resulted in me unceremoniously dangling upside down in mid-air with the sheep on top of me.
“I recall saying to him with a big grin; Dean, you can let go now, you’re a hero.”
The sheep is thought to become stuck after she was chased over the headland by a dog, according to the RSPCA. After being monitored after the incident – which took place on January 21 – she has been reunited with her flock.
“There is no doubt that Dean’s quick reactions and strength saved the life of this sheep. She would have plunged down the cliff if he hadn’t managed to grab hold of her and hang on until his colleague arrived,” added RSPCA chief inspectorate Dermot Murphy.
“I’m incredibly proud of Dean and Mike, they are a great example of our rescue team who will go to great lengths to save animals.”
