Pony rescued after falling through frozen pond

A 17-year-old pony had to be rescued by firefighters in Staffordshire on Monday (21 December) after falling through ice on a frozen pond.

Firefighters used an inflatable raft to reach the pony called Velvet. They then had to break the ice to get her out.

Velvet was thoroughly checked by vets and is unhurt. She is now recovering from her ordeal.

The accident happened about 11am on Monday at Chapel Street, Forsbrook near Stoke-on-Trent.

Charlotte Brailsford who owns Velvet told local press she was alerted to the incident when she heard a commotion outside.

“I glanced out of the window and saw that she had got into the pond. She was shivering, but fortunately not panicking,” she said.

“One of our neighbours got a rope around her, but the firemen told him no-one was allowed on the ice for health and safety reasons.

“She was absolutely freezing and her legs were going from under her. I think they got her out at just the right time.

“She has been seen by a vet and she has come out of it unscathed. We rubbed her down with straw and towels and the vet took her temperature and checked her heart. The vet was quite amazed she had come out of it so well.”

A spokesman for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue added: “Our firefighters have equipment to deal with this type of incident. If you see someone, or a pet, fall through the ice and get into difficulty ring 999.”

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