A trapped deer that jumped the sea wall and fell beneath the boulders on Exmouth beach had to be euthanised after it was rescued.
Exmouth firefighters were called to Mamhead View at around 9am on Tuesday morning (June 9) after a dogwalker heard ‘major splashing’ from beneath the sea wall and spotted the trapped animal.
The fire service used specialist spreading equipment to move sea defence boulders to reach the stricken animal, which was trapped up to its neck in cold water in a rising tide.
The trapped deer was up to its neck in cold sea water in an incoming tide.
Photo: Yvonne Cavill.
The deer was assessed by a local vets and wildlife expert Tony Bennett, but it was euthanised shortly after when it was found to be severely injured.
The deer was trapped beneath the sea defence boulders where it slipped into a gap, falling 15 feet from the sea wall after it was seen running along Exmouth seafront.
Earlier in the morning a deer described as ‘young and scrawny’ was spotted close by, along Louisa Place, Exmouth.
Green watch firefighters from Exmouth, and the fire station animal rescue team, used a spreader device to move the boulder trapping the deer.
The deer was brought to safety by a firefighter climbing into the hole, fastening webbing around the animal to lift it free.
Lyndon Mason, watch manager, said: “A firefighter descended into the hole, got the deer and lifted it out. We secured him in the back of our water rescue vehicle until Tony arrived.
“It was quite distressed. It was obviously very cold. He was up to his neck in water. It was an incoming tide. If he hadn’t been released, he would have drowned.”
Exmouth firefighters used spreading equipment to pull the rock off the trapped deer.
Photo: Yvonne Cavill.
Yvonne Cavill, from Moreton Crescent, and a woman walking her dog, rallied to help, raising the alarm.
Yvonne said: “Between us we tried calling various people to help. The harbour master arrived first and was quickly followed by the fire brigade, who then did an incredible job of lifting a half tonne rock so they could pull the deer out.
“They then kept the deer calm and quiet in the back of one of their vehicles while we waited for Tony Bennett of Moorlands Wildlife Centre to arrive.
“Tony had arranged for a vet to attend to assess the deer’s injuries and unfortunately it became apparent that they were too severe for the deer to make a recovery, so it was euthanised.”
She added: “It was an incredible team effort to minimise the distress for the deer.”
The deer was carried to safety but it was found to be severely injured and was euthanised.
Photo: Yvonne Cavill.
The injured deer was moved from the fire service vehicle into a 4×4 where it was euthanised after it was found to be suffering from multiple injuries, internal bleeding, a broken jaw and a damaged knee, leaving it unable to walk.
Tony Bennett, from Moorlands Wildlife Centre in East Devon, said euthanasia was the only option because the deer was suffering.
“It would have died from its injuries and in a lot of pain,” he said.
The deer jumped over the sea wall, falling into a gap in the sea defence rocks at Mamhead View, Exmouth.
Photo: Yvonne Cavill.
Tony, who praised the ‘fabulous’ fire crew for freeing the animal, added: “Deer have a problem with being in captivity. They are highly stressed animals. They don’t do well. The outcome was unlikely to be good for it unless we could get it released very quickly.”
He stressed most animal rescues ended positively, with wildlife being released. He urged anyone to contact their local wildlife centre if spotting an animal in distress, or injured.
