Bullock trapped on cliff ledge for THREE DAYS as officials argue over £7,500 bill to rescue it

 

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 2:24 PM on 03rd July 2008

 

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A bullock has been trapped on a cliff ledge for three days in danger of being swept out to sea as officials argued over who should pay the £7,500 cost of a helicopter rescue.

The young Charolais steer slipped down a steep track near Land's End, ending up 150ft below the clifftop on a ledge just 5ft above the waves.

RSPCA officers and Cornish county council officials decided a rescue from the clifftop would be too dangerous and made an emergency plea to the Royal Naval air station at Culdrose, on the Lizard Peninsula, for help saving the trapped animal.

 

Enlarge Stranded: The steer looks on as a member of the Coastguard abseils down the cliff face to weigh up rescue options

The Ministry of Defence offered to send a Sea King helicopter - but demanded £3,000-per-hour running costs.

As rising tides threatened to drown the steer, RSPCA officials finally agreed yesterday to fund the rescue.

It was set to go ahead at Porthgwarra today, weather permitting.

RSPCA spokeswoman Jo Barr said the charity had to put the interests of the animal above money but added: 'We are disappointed that the MoD has decided to start charging for use of the helicopter. We have always had great support from them before.'

A spokesman for Cornwall County Council said it had 'pleaded' with the MoD to waive the costs, adding: 'Unfortunately if the animal had been killed, we would be left with a rotting carcass on the cliffs, which would require a licence from Defra, and eventually have to be recovered.'

 

 

 

Enlarge So near yet so far: A rescue via the cliff face was ruled out as too dangerous

Cattle farmer Andrew Flower, of Roskestal Farm, St Levan, said: 'With the farming industry the way it is at the moment I could never have paid for the helicopter.'

He has been told that the animal must either be removed by helicopter, or put down humanely.

A coastguard team from Land's End has been feeding the bull daily by lowering hay and water to the precarious plateau.

Michael Mulford, who co-ordinates search and rescue for the RAF, said: 'We are here primarily for humanitarian rescue but we are able to help when animals are under stress.

'We cannot justify public funds being used in this way and these marginal costs are the absolute minimum we can possibly charge.'

The RSPCA has now warned farmers nationwide to make sure they can cover the cost of potential animal rescues - because the MoD won't pay for them.

Ms Barr said: 'Given that there are numerous farms around the British isles with clifftop grazing, the RSPCA and NFU would like to urge farmers to ensure their animals are safely contained and that they have suitable insurance to meet the costs of recovering livestock.'

Poor Cow. Come home to Jacob. Come to daddy. There there. *Pats head*

Poor Cow. Come home to Jacob. Come to daddy. There there. *Pats head*

 

Get down there and rescue it, you lazy get!!:P

He'll come back eventually, they always do :P

He'll come back eventually, they always do :P

 

So bullocks can fly now, can they??:rolleyes:

how do you think it got there? ^ :P