Scottish firefighters have taken the bull by the horns to rescue a one-tonne bovine after it fell into a storm drain in Skye.
The prized £2,000 animal had been roaming Ben Aketil windfarm on the Isle of Skye when it fell three feet into into the muddy drain.
The exhausted bull was discovered 48-hours later by a crofter who spotted its head and immediately called for help.
Crews from Portree, Broadford and Dunvegan were mobilised to the scene.
Firefighter at Broadford fire station Martin Benson said: “The bull had been stuck for a considerable amount of time and had lost a lot of weight.
“We cut the peat bank as best we could around the bull which was about three feet below ground level – and stuck at either side when we arrived.
“Eventually we managed to carve out some room for the bull to wriggle itself free.”
He added: “The first thing the animal did was shake itself down and go for something to eat!
“In such a remote, agricultural area these rescues are sometimes necessary – and it’s nice to have a happy outcome.”
Local crofter Ian Duncan last saw the animal on Friday morning and began to worry on Saturday afternoon.
He said: “He disappeared on the Friday while searching for cows.
“It’s not uncommon for a bull to go missing in such a large area but this bull had never gone missing for such a time before.
“When we found the animal I was surprised at how far he’d travelled.
“I called the Fire Service right away and they did a magnificent job of digging him out.”
Ian added: “He’s been eating a lot more – but apart from that he’s looking okay!”
