Firefighters rescue Gina the camel from floodwaters in Moama

Firefighters have pulled off the bizarre rescue of a domestic camel after she wandered off from her herd in the middle of a flood.

Firefighters have rescued a domestic camel from floodwaters on the swollen Murray River after it was trapped for several days.

The camel’s distressed owner called emergency services on Wednesday afternoon after it had wandered away from its herd and into floodwaters at Moama on the NSW/Victoria border.

The owner had tried to coax her beloved animal – called Gina — away from the water’s edge, but the camel ignored her and continued into the floodwaters.

Gina – the domestic camel- wandered away from the herd into floodwaters. Picture: FRNSW

She was particularly concerned because camels cannot swim.

After several days of trying to save the camel, Fire and Rescue NSW sent in their in-water rescue team based at Moama to answer the owner’s cry for help.

They travelled by boat from Moama Bridge to the camel farm where they created a river barrier to herd the camel with the help of NSW SES, marine rescue and surf lifesavers.

Firefighters rescued Gina after several days. Picture: FRNSW

Wading through the river up to their chests, the rescuers used hay to lure Gina out of the floodwaters and back to dry land.

She was able to be returned to the herd unharmed.

A FRNSW spokesman said the firefighters had lived the organisation’s motto of “prepared for everything” and could now add “camel wrangling” to their long list of rescue capabilities.