Gembrook septic tank horse rescue: Firefighters help rescue 22-year-old gelding

A quick-thinking group of firefighters and vets worked together to save a cheeky horse from drowning in Gembrook.

Jack, a 22-year-old gelding, managed to slip off the lid of a septic tank and fall in, before being rescued by multiple fire brigade crews and a team of local vets. Image: Belgrave South Fire Brigade.

A quick-thinking group of firefighters and vets have saved a horse from drowning after he became stuck in a septic tank on a property in Gembrook.

Jack, a 22-year-old gelding, learnt a valuable lesson to not horse-around near septic tanks, after he managed to remove the lid of one last Thursday, and subsequently fell in.

Crews from the Belgrave South, Macclesfield and Narre Warren fire brigades worked together alongside a team from the South Eastern Equine Hospital to stop Jack from drowning and safely remove him from the tank.

Jack the gelding found himself in quite the predicament after falling into a septic tank. Picture: Belgrave South Fire Brigade.

Multiple fire brigade crews alongside a vet team from the South Eastern Equine Hospital helped to safely rescue a 22-year-old horse Jack after he fell into a septic tank. Picture: Macclesfield Fire Bridge (CFA).

A Fire Rescue Victoria crew helped to bail the contents of the tank in order to keep Jack’s head above water.

The CFA sent out four crews and the local vet team to help.

After arriving to the incident at 4.20pm, the crews used quick-thinking and teamwork, with the tank was emptied and the scene considered ‘under control’ by 4.40pm.

The Macclesfield brigade used a vertical lift harness and a local excavator to eventually lift Jack out of the tank.

The scene was closed by the crews at 6.07pm.

Despite his stinky ordeal, Jack is recovering well in the care of the South Eastern Equine Hospital team.

Jack is recovering well, with the help of South Eastern Equine Hospital. Image: Macclesfield Fire Bridge (CFA).

[e-mail]