Firefighter-paramedic Jesse Berry works to assist trapped horse. / Courtesy photo by Riverside Fire Authority
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
Centralia area firefighters worked for hours last night attempting to rescue a horse that fell to the bottom of an abandoned well.
The animal did not survive.
Riverside Fire Authority Chief Jim Walkowski said it appeared the horse broke through a concrete lid covering the 25-deep well. It was dry, he said.
Seven firefighters trained in large animal rescue responded about 6 p.m. to the pasture at the 2500 block of Seminary Hill Road, according to the chief.
The opening was approximately a four-foot square he said, and the horse was wedged at the bottom with his legs tangled in broken pieces of concrete and its wire mesh. The 1,800 pound animal had significant injuries, according to Walkowski.
With a veterinarian’s supervision, a firefighter was lowered and suspended to administer medication to calm the horse, Walkowski said.
“He was young with lots of energy,” Walkowski said. “From what I understand, in good health.”
The horse was really tired when they arrived, the chief said. It wasn’t clear how many hours he may have been trapped, he said.
It was right around 9:30 when the horse gave up, according to the chief.
Walkowski said they’ve never encountered such a complex rescue.
“Yeah, it was really sad,” he said. “We were really, really hoping we were gonna be able to make a difference.”
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
Always sad when a pet dies. I too have been on a rescue call for a horse. Rescuers (firefighters) put their heart & soul into getting the creature out alive. Never fun when it turns out to be a recovery mission…or to have a successful rescue and then a vet has to put the animal down. 🙁
i am so sorry for their loss
That is hearbreaking. I hope he wasn’t down there too long before he was discovered. Poor thing! Thoughts and prayers to his family.
Oh how sad. 🙁 what a terrible thing, what a loss.