Stranded goat prompts river rescue

19 October 2025

News image — Water-trained fire officers were sent to retrieve the goat

Longtown Fire Station A view downwards to the foot of the arch of a bridge over a river, shown in two sections. On the left, two fire officers can be seen holding poles and ropes with what appear to be floats. The view is vertiginous, past the edge of the bridge and looking down on the crew, who seem small below. On the right, the goat is in the water at the edge of the arch base. The water looks grey and cold. — Water-trained fire officers were sent to retrieve the goat

An attempt to retrieve a goat, stranded at the bottom of a bridge arch, led to an emergency call-out to rescue its rescuer.

Three fire crews and police were sent to Longtown Bridge in Carlisle, Cumbria, after reports someone had gone into the water while trying to reach the animal.

They had managed to extricate themselves but, to "prevent a repeat incident", water trained fire officers were sent to retrieve the animal, Longtown Fire Station said in a post on Facebook.

Rescuers pushed the goat onto the bank where it was re-captured up river, in what the fire service described as a "satisfactory conclusion".

Crews from Longtown, Carlisle West and Carlisle East fire stations were called out to the rescue, along with Cumbria Police and North West Ambulance Service.

In its post, Longtown Fire Station said: "All in all a satisfactory conclusion but, please, never attempt a rescue yourself.

"Call out the emergency services who are both trained and equipped for situations like this."

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