LOS ANGELES, CA — Dozens of firefighters and animal experts worked for three hours Wednesday to free a 1,200-pound horse that became trapped in a sinkhole, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The horse, a 20-year-old Paso Fino breed named Lucky, found herself suddenly stuck in soft soil that developed into a sinkhole around noon in the yard where she lives in Lakeview Terrace in the east San Fernando Valley, firefighters said.
The hole went up to her chest and neck area, according to the LAFD.
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Lucky is free! pic.twitter.com/eFCNlgzGIx
— Erik Scott (@PIOErikScott) February 21, 2024
Over 60 LAFD firefighters, members of the Sanitation Department and the city’s Specialized Mobile Animal Rescue Team worked to develop a plan to rescue Lucky. At first, they considered fitting her with a special harness that would allow an LAFD helicopter to hoist her up, firefighters said.
But eventually crews worked using an excavator, vacuum trucks and hand tools to remove soil from around Lucky, then fit her with lifting straps that allowed crews to hoist her out from the ground, firefighters said.
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During the rescue Lucky remained conscious and alert with what firefighters described as “minimal to moderate distress.” Animal experts worked to comfort the horse during the rescue, the LAFD said.
About three hours later, Lucky was hoisted up from the hole.
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“Though there have been strong rainstorms in that area in recent days and some speculation that the suddenly appearing sinkhole may be related to an old septic system, the specific cause of the sinkhole, and horse becoming trapped, cannot be formally declared by firefighters,” the LADFD said.
#LakeviewTerrace horse rescue. Your @LAFD #Firefighters will remove this beautiful 1200 pound horse & help her live up to her name, “Lucky“. pic.twitter.com/NW6YtahfFd
— Erik Scott (@PIOErikScott) February 21, 2024
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