Kangaroo rescued from mineshaft in Creswick forest near Ballarat

Despite blustery winds and freezing conditions a lucky kangaroo has survived against odds thanks to the determined work of a dog and his owner.

A lucky roo has been rescued from a mineshaft after spending nearly a week stuck near Ballarat, after a dog and his owner spotted him.

A lucky roo has been rescued from a mineshaft after spending nearly a week stuck near Ballarat.

Mark Firman and his dog “Buddy” went on a run through the Creswick Forest on Sunday morning when the dog suddenly veered off track.

He refused to leave a spot until his owner came over to investigate and then saw the cold, distressed half submerged kangaroo in the mine shaft, about 4m deep.

Mark called BADGAR Emergency Wildlife Rescue who sent over volunteers to rescue the exhausted roo.

A dog spotted the roo which became stuck down an abandoned mineshaft in Creswick State Forest

BADGAR Emergency Wildlife Rescue volunteers Gary Ward and Michael Sari arrived at the scene and quickly began to carry equipment up the track, which was too slippery for a vehicle.

The roo was found to be suffering hypothermia and from a lack of food.

The 70kg male Eastern Grey Kangaroo had been scratching at the walls attempting to get out and went into shock once rescued.

“We were lucky the shaft wasn’t too deep for our ladders to get down,” Mr Ward said.

“There are hundreds of unmarked mineshafts in this area, you can’t see them, anyone could fall in.”

The rescue was a dedicated operation and race against time.

Between the three of them the roo was carried back to the car a few hundred meters away and secured on a stretcher.

Volunteers took him to the Hepburn Wildlife Shelter where Jon Rowdon and Gayle Chappell performed emergency treatment.

The roo was found to be suffering hypothermia and from a lack of food.

Volunteers took him to the Hepburn Wildlife Shelter for emergency treatment.

Rescuers had to wash the roo and raise his temperature.

The roo is now safe and well.

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The mud that had caked on over days of being trapped was washed off and helped to raise his temperature which was dangerously low.

Mr Sari says the signs of recovery are hopeful, and all thanks to a man and his dog out for a run in the right place.

“Upon first glance of him, we were very distressed at his futile situation,” he said.

“He was half submerged in freezing, muddy water and alert, so we held little hope for his survival,”

“This boy was one of the very few lucky ones.”

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