Massive Team of Rescuers Save Deer Trapped in Freezing Waters in the Erie Canal

Truly wintery weather with lots and lots of snow and low temperatures brings joy to some, to others it is a nuisance. The harsh conditions contribute to many accidents and unfortunate situations – not only for people but, of course, also for animals.

In Spencerport, New York, officers and firefighters from the Spencerport Fire Department and Ogden Police Department just carried out an unusual rescue – a young male deer was saved from icy water. The deer fell through the thin ice on top of the Erie Canal and was in desperate need of immediate help in order to survive.

The Spencerport Fire Department reported that the deer was cold and exhausted, unable to move, as his hind legs were stuck in mud.

The firefighters were ready for the rescue action, suited up in special protective gear that made it possible for them to plunge into the ice cold water. Four members of the team got into the canal, while a rope team assisted from the shore.

The rescuers had to worry not only about the deer’s safety but also about the possibility suffering from hypothermia themselves. With the temperatures in the twenties, the rescue was incredibly difficult.

The deer was brought out of the freezing water after about thirty minutes, after which he had to regain his strength and walk back home to the woods.

“It is not every day you get to sit there and pet a deer on the side of a canal bank,” said Christian Cordts, once of the firefighters.

To save a life is something absolutely incredible – this time, for the officers and firefighters from New York, it just happened to be a deer life, not a human one. The rescuers did a fantastic job and – despite the awful weather conditions – managed to give the animal a chance to return safely and happily to his natural home. We can only wish every unlucky animal that finds themselves in a situation like this encounters such wonderful people!

Image source: SpencerportFireDist/Town of Ogden Police