The Poudre Fire Authority in Fort Collins rescued a cow named T-Bone from a frozen lake today.
The 911 call came in just before 5 p.m.
A cow was stuck in the lake dispatchers were told.
The first crews arrived at the Island Lake Marine and Sports just off of Interstate 25, to find a large Hereford cow stuck in a partially frozen pond at the bottom of a 25 foot embankment.
Owners told crews that 14-year-old T-Bone had been stuck for nearly five hours and was suffering from hypothermia and shock.
Fire crews immediately went to work creating a plan.
The plan involved firefighters setting up a “low-angle” mechanical advantage rope rescue system anchored to a fire truck, according to a news release from the fire department.
When the system was set up, it took more than a dozen firefighters including some in cold-water rescue suits to help free T-Bone and get her to the top.
She was met on level ground by veterniarians from Colorado State University, who covered her with a tarp to warm her up.
At one point it looked like she wouldn’t make it; her heart rate dropping to 30 beats per minute lower than the average 60 to 70.
The CSU veterinarians didn’t give up. After warming T-Bone back up, administering IV fluids, and giving her a good meal, her heartbeat has increased to about 80 beats per minute as of tonight.
T-Bone’s prognosis looks good, according to the release, but it is still unknown when T-Bone will be healthy enough to return to her owner.
