Up to the neck in a quagmire: an unusual story of saving a horse in the Leningrad region

A whole rescue operation unfolded in the Vsevolozhsk district of the Leningrad region, where a horse named Bach stepped on unstable ground and was pulled into a quagmire. The usual walk almost ended in the death of the animal – only employees No. 100 of the Leningrad Regional Fire Service, who arrived at the scene, could save the poor fellow.

Horse in a swamp trap

Pulling a horse out of the swamp is a big problem for everyone who does not have the skills of Baron Munchausen. However, the employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations coped with a non-standard task. To do this, I had to be smart and not forget that Bach could hide in a fetid slurry at any moment and leave his masters forever.

The call came in at 20:35 – without wasting a minute, the rescuers moved to their destination. According to the press service of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations for the Leningrad Region, they managed to establish that a large, but young horse fell into the swamp trap. And he got stuck among the picturesque expanses near the village of “Special Status”, bogged down to the very neck.

“The area was flooded, and therefore extremely unpredictable – there was solid ground under water or a quagmire – it was impossible to predict in advance. Therefore, the initial task of the firefighters was to understand what equipment would have to be used,” – says in message.

But the difficulties did not end there – there was still a risk of drowning the car, so the rescuers had to change plans.

Employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations drove as close as possible to the scene, and then took all the necessary equipment from the car. Then they had to go on foot, grabbing the necessary equipment, including a chainsaw – who knows what obstacles they had to face.

When the rescuers got to the worried participants of the walk, the gelding remained in an extremely dangerous position. He could no longer get out on his own, and the riders could do nothing to help – they only supported Bach’s head above the water so that he would not choke.

Bach’s rescue

The entire operation took about four hours. The employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations came in handy with cables, ropes and fire hoses – a little ingenuity, and they managed to pass the tools under the belly and front legs of the horse. But then came the most difficult stage.

It is not easy even to pull a person out of the quagmire, but here a gelding with a weight of several centners needed help. It took several hours to get him out of the trap.

Eyewitnesses were worried, and for the firefighters themselves, the case was, to put it mildly, very atypical. But everything ended well. However, the rescuers had no time to relax.

“Not having time to arrive at the fire station after rescuing the animal (not being able to properly wash and change clothes), the guard on duty went to a new challenge – to extinguish the fire. Such work”the message says.

How not to fall into a quagmire

While walking through the forest, one should not forget about the dangers that lurk right under your feet. Experts remind that swamps are of particular danger – overgrown reservoirs, the surface of which is hidden from view by moss and grass. It is worth it to please, and the outcome may be the most unfavorable.

If it is not possible to get around the swampy area, it is worth going around areas with a bog. It is better to move here in a group, choosing the safest road.

A strong long pole can help in the campaign, which will allow not only to probe the path, but also to maintain balance. On such a walk, you should not make sudden movements – it is better to stay close to bushes, trees and bumps. But in no case should you jump from bump to bump – there is a chance to fall into a trap.

If someone from the group got into a quagmire, help should be provided quickly – it is better to put poles and thick branches next to a stuck comrade. And the best way to help is by crawling. Solo travelers should not panic if they fall into a quagmire. It is necessary not to make sudden movements, throw off heavy things, pull up the pole and lie on it with your chest. In addition, it is worth calling for help if there are people nearby.