Marion County Firefighters Rescue Horse From Levy

Horse Stuck In Water Rescued By Marion County Fire Rescue

A horse named Walter found himself stuck in water in Umatilla on Saturday, but was rescued by Marion County firefighters.

Walter got spooked near the Nelson’s Fish Camp on SE Highway 42 and started to back down into the levy. The rider was able to jump off before Walter entered the water.

Marion County Fire Rescue was dispatched to the scene before 10 a.m. where they found Walter stuck in the water and in distress.

MCFR Technical Rescue Team arrived to help and the University of Florida Large Animal Rescue Team was called to the scene to help. MCFR crews were able to place a harness on the horse and pull him from the water before the UF Rescue Team arrived.

It happened near the Nelson’s Fish Camp on SE Highway 42. The horse named Walter got spooked and started to back down into the levy. The rider was able to jump off before Walter started going into the water.

MCFR units were dispatched on scene before 10 a.m. They found Walter stuck in the water and in distress. MCFR Technical Rescue Team arrived to help out. The University of Florida Large Animal Rescue Team was also called to the scene. Together the crews were able to place a harness on the horse and pull him from the water before the UF Rescue Team arrived.

The horse and rider were okay. Walter suffered minor cuts and scrapes, but appeared to be in good shape after the UF Rescue Team checked him over and he was able to stand on his own four legs. His rider was evaluated by MCFR paramedics on the scene and was not injured.

This is the second horse MCFR rescued in 30 days, all units were congratulated on another successful rescue in a Facebook post.