Workers from Witton Castle Country Park in Bishop Auckland were called out to a very different job to usual – as a local farmer called to say one of his bullocks had fallen into a sinkhole.
The sinkhole had gone unnoticed until the unfortunate beast stumbled into it headfirst and got stuck – before becoming completely submerged.
In video footage of the incredible rescue, four men use a tractor and a winch to bring the cow to safety at the County Durham farm.
Pulling the bullock up very slowly by straps attached to its lower legs, its rear end slowly becomes visible, bringing with it an array of soil.
Eventually, its body and shoulders are also pulled out of the hole and its entire body is freed, before the workers carefully lay it down on the ground.
The bewildered beast begins to blink at being exposed to sunlight once more – after hours spent upside-down in the murky hole.
The cow manages to get to its feet and make a few unsteady steps, before going over to the rest of the – much cleaner – herd, who inquisitively greet him and give him a friendly sniff.
The cow was not injured and is now back safely in the field once again with his friends.
The amazing video has now been viewed almost three million times.
People rushed to the comments to congratulate the workers on their heroic rescue, with many praising the ‘great job’.
