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London, July 4 : A bullock that was trapped on a cliff ledge for three days has been rescued by a Navy helicopter at a total cost of 16,000 pounds. A bullock that was trapped on a cliff ledge for three days has been rescued by a Navy helicopter at a total cost of 16,000 pounds.
The Charolais steer, which slipped down a steep track and ended up 150 feet below the cliff top on a plateau five feet above the waves, was left stranded while the RSPCA wrangled with the Ministry of Defence over a 10,000-pound bill for using the Sea King aircraft in the mission.
However, the animal was airlifted to safety in a 90-minute operation, reports the Mirror.
After days of wrangling, the Ministry of Defence waived the fee for the rescue.
The RSPCA and Cornwall County Council decided a land-based rescue was too dangerous and made an emergency request to the Royal Naval air station at Culdrose to help save the animal trapped at Porthgwarra, near Land's End.
"The Royal Navy factored the rescue into routine training in the area so there was no charge," the MoD explained.
After the animal was winched to safety, owner Andrew Flower said: "It's fantastic and will delight my 15-year-old daughter Samantha, who has been really upset. I couldn't have paid for the helicopter."
The costs to coastguards, fire crew, vets and animal welfare teams over three days reached about 6,000 pounds.
A Cornwall fire service spokesman said: "It has been a major use of manpower. But it's hard to look down a cliff and see a little cow mooing up at you and not feel bad." (ANI)
© 2007 ANI
