Valentines Deer Rescued from Tributary of River Uck

Rescuers have fallen in love with a young female Roe Deer after rescuing it from a deep stream in Uckfield today.

Rescuers Trevor Weeks MBE and Chris Riddington of East Sussex Wildlife Rescue & Ambulance Service (WRAS) were called out to a tributary of the River Uck by Fernley Park, Uckfield, by local resident Zoe Warren after she spotted the deer whilst out walking her dogs.  “I tried to encourage the deer to a point in the stream where it might be able to climb out but the stream it quite steep sided. In the end I called WRAS for help” said Zoe.

WRAS’s ambulance was on site within 20 minutes.

Rescuers walked across to the stream under the impression the deer was trapped in a ditch, and were quite surprised when the ditch turned into a rather deep  fast flowing stream. After a short search of the area the deer was spotted trying to get out of the stream.

"Chris and I took one look at the deer and knew we had to act quickly. There was no time to stop and change into dry suits or waders, every second counted on getting the deer out and starting the warm up process, although we had water gear in the ambulance, we didn’t want to waste time going back and getting it” said Trevor.

Rescuers had to slide down the steep bank of the stream into the water either side of the deer. “I can’t believe how cold the water was” said Chris, “Trevor had to climb through brambles to get to one side of the deer as I approached from the other.  The poor Roe Deer was very cold and wet and had a leg caught in a tree root. Trevor pushed her up and forward to get her out of the water and I climbed up onto the bank to help lift her completely out of the stream.”

Rescuers then carried the deer in their arms back to the waiting ambulance and where both Chris and the deer were  wrapped in blankets to soak up as much water as possible and help warm them up.  The deer was then taken to WRAS’s Casualty Care Centre at Whitesmith where emergency treatment was given and the warm up process continued. The Roe was bedded down in one of WRAS’s indoor pens with a deep litter of straw and several heat pads to keep the deer warm.

Deer specialist Chris and Sylvia Collinson visited WRAS to help assess the deer’s condition.

-END-

VIDEO USE: This video is free to use by local media to East Sussex England only, i.e. BBC Local News, Meridian TV, Local radio stations and newspapers.  For all other use please contact Trevor Weeks on 01825-873003.

Public Version with Logo: https://youtu.be/lCC7-0QxdWI

Media Version without Logo: https://youtu.be/FPNSsxmF9iw

There is no sound on the video due to the camera being accidently muted.

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