Heartwarming images show how this horse trapped in drainpipe in Waterlooville was rescued by firefighters

Chiquita, an eight-year-old horse, was reported to Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service this morning as being trapped in a drainpipe in Purbrook Heath Road, Waterlooville.

This sparked a gruelling operation lasting more than two hours while fire crews, urban search and rescue staff and vets worked to free the horse.

Cosham Fire Station’s crew manager, Stephen Alchin, was one of those who took part in the rescue.

He said: ‘Chiquita was about 1.5m down the drain, so had to be sedated by the vets before we lifted her out.

‘She was completely stuck so it took a good couple of hours to get her out.’

Crews from Cosham, Beaulieu, Winchester and more all attended the incident after getting the call at 9.45am.

After being eventually freed from the drainpipe, vets gave Chiquita a once-over, and were relieved to find that she was completely unharmed.

‘She had no injuries whatsoever – it was incredible,’ said crew manager Alchin.

‘It was an amazing outcome; if a horse ends up breaking a leg it can be a bit of a tragic ending. Instead, this was a great example of teamwork from everyone at Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service.’

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