This is the chilling moment an elk that fell through the icy surface of a frozen pond gets rescued by firefighters.
The ‘cool’ rescue operation reportedly took place in the town of Evergreen, in the US state of Colorado, on 8th March.
Thoughtful witnesses called emergency services after spotting the fallen elk and fearing it might freeze to death.
In this footage that Newsflash obtained from the Evergreen Fire/Rescue Department, crews can be seen attempting to haul the creature out of the ice-cold water.
Two rescuers are seen using long metal rods as a lever to push its body out as three others pull it by the front legs.
Incredibly – during this – the animal seems completely calm and apparently aware that the men yanking its legs are its saviours.
A short struggle later, they were able to get it safely back on dry land.
Evergreen Fire/Rescue said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: “Another elk ignored warnings, and fell through the ice on a pond this afternoon. Firefighters rescued the elk after neighbours called 911.”
The department said the elk was not injured and was quickly able to rejoin its herd.
The statement added: “Ice safety is simple: Stay Off the Ice. We can learn from this elk’s harrowing brush with hypothermia and death.
“Fortunately, neighbours did the right thing and called 911.”
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