Wahoo the police horse saved by passers-by

[depakid]

The quick actions of police and passers-by helped save the life of a badly injured Sydney police horse, NSW's mounted police chief says. They risked their own safety to lay their bodies across Wahoo to calm him after he began thrashing in distress when his leg became caught in a drain.

Wahoo stepped backwards onto a steel drainage grate while taking part in a police operation at Bankstown in Sydney's south-west about 7.15pm yesterday. A female senior constable on Wahoo was issuing an infringement notice to an illegally parked vehicle in Jacobs Street when the horse slipped, police said. His hind leg slipped into the grate and became lodged, and he fell on to his side and began thrashing about.

Nearby police and six members of the public rushed to calm him down until vets were able to sedate him. Fire Brigades Rescue crews helped stabilise Wahoo during the two-hour operation to free him from the drain.

He was treated for facial and leg injuries and is recovering at the Redfern stables, police said.

Mounted Section commander Inspector Kirsten McFadden said the horse was doing well. "Wahoo suffered quite nasty injuries to his head and legs and looks a little worse for wear, but he's in good spirits and recovering well," she said in a statement today.

More: http://www.smh.com.au/national/wahoo-the-police-horse-saved-20091120-iqc2.html

[katkat]

1. a big thank you to them

Horses legs are so fragile, this could have ended very badly.

[BuelahWitch]

2. It's nice to see a good article about people and animals

I'm glad Wahoo is going to be ok.