Bowen Basin mine worker rescues emu chick from muddy pit

“I jumped up and another two girls jumped up and were like no, stop, we’ve got to rescue this baby.’’ And so they did. SEE THE VIDEO

A quick thinking wildlife lover has jumped into a deep muddy pit to save a stranded and stuck emu chick.

When the 45-year-old Bowen Basin operator saw the distressed bird while on the bus back to her camp near Glenden at the end of shift on Saturday evening there was only one course of action.

“I jumped up and another two girls jumped up and were like no, stop, we’ve got to rescue this baby,” she said.

The trio jumped off the bus and in those few moments she said she was thinking, how am I going to grab it? Is it going to bite me?

“I just got the other girl to hold my hand, stuck one foot in, grabbed it around the neck and pulled it out,” she said.

A Bowen Basin mine operator had no second thoughts about jumping into a deep muddy pit to rescue a stranded emu chick. Video: Bridget Duggan

“I didn’t know where else to grab it.

“And then it ran straight back in, I was thinking oh my god are you serious.

“I could feel my shoes full of mud.”

So back into the swampy bog she went and pulled the chick to safety again – this time it ran away to join its emu family.

The 45 year old said she was glad it was the end of the day and she was on her way home to clean up. Pictures: Contributed

“Thank god it was the end of the day … because all my shirt and hair was splattered with mud,” she said.

“I was just thankful I was on my way home, and also thankful the emu was safe and I thought it better live a bloody long and happy life now.”

The entire rescue was captured on video by a workmate and features one of her others friends yelling “video video video”.

“I had no idea it was going to be so hilarious (to watch),” she said.

Originally published as Bowen Basin mine worker rescues emu chick from muddy pit