A Rescue which could have gone wrong

Another night of torrential rain & time to check the cows in the early morning whatever the weather.

A cow had a calf yesterday. Why do they always wait for stormy weather?  I go down the steep hill and see mother in calf in the worst part of the field. In the boggy bit with nasty under growth.  I call them and they walk forward but the calf leaps and jumps ahead and falls  into the stream which has become a river. He disappears under.  I jump in, fully clothed in my waterproofs and boots and find him.  I push him towards the bank but he is a heavy little beast.  I panic, will we get out of here. There is mud underfoot and lots of weeds. I am not a strong swimmer. The water  is up to my chest.  I yank my waterproof mobile out of my pocket & speed dial my husband. ‘Get here quickly’.

I hold the calf and push him with all my strength up the bank.  Amazingly he struggles out.  I try not to panic with the cold biting into me and the rain still lashing down. I must get out.  I have two little girls to care for.  I heave myself up the bank and lie there exhausted.  My phone is now dead and I have lost a boot in the sticky clay mud but I am out.

My husband arrives and we check the calf. Then a hot shower and huge relief.

Moral.  Always carry a mobile!

This is a true story.