In a swift response to an emergency call received at 1:52pm today, Thursday, September 26, firefighters from multiple stations across Northern Ireland banded together in a rescue operation to save sheep stranded by the flooding of the River Bush on Coolkeeran Road, Armoy, in County Antrim.
The operation involved one appliance each from Ballycastle and Ballymoney Fire Stations, supplemented by the Specialist Rescue Team from Central Fire Station and the Animal Rescue Team from Omagh Fire Station.
The crews combined efforts were necessitated after heavy rainfall led to the River Bush bursting its banks, leaving a number of sheep in a perilous situation.
Rising waters quickly turned a regular pasture into a potential death trap for the livestock. Firefighters, equipped with specialised gear, employed manual handling techniques to safely extract the animals from the muddy, fast-flowing waters.
By 2:45pm, the rescue team managed to save three sheep from the riverbank. However, the operation was tinged with sadness as it was confirmed that despite the crews’ best efforts, a number of sheep could not be rescued in time and drowned.
This incident underscores the challenges faced by rural communities and their livestock during unexpected weather events.