A Saturday morning training exercise for Cowes RNLI lifeboat suddenly took on an animal rescue role today when the crew were amazed to see a young deer swimming in the Solent.
The deer, of the Muntjac variety found in the New Forest, had apparently been carried some three miles across the Solent by the tide, to end up off Princes Green, Cowes.
Lifeboat helm, Myles Hussey, said,
“To say we were surprised was an under-statement, even the Coastguard had to be told three times before they believed us!
“It was quite exhausted and cold when we got it over the stern of the boat. A member of our crew, Felicity Elliott, a doctor at Newport’s St Mary’s Hospital, then quickly wrapped it in a blanket.”
The young deer was taken back to the lifeboat station and put in the shower room, where it was given a drink and again wrapped in a blanket, to await being picked up by the RSPCA.
Myles said,
“I always wanted to rescue a dog, but instead it was a deer, and because of the tide at the time we named the youngster Ebbing.”
News shared by George on behalf of Cowes RNLI. Ed
