UPDATE: 5.30pm

MEMBERS from Gwent Caving Club were called to rescue a distressed and heavily pregnant sheep, which had become trapped in a mountain rift in Blaina.

On Saturday, an Ebbw Vale fire crew were called to the scene at the Mynydd James at around 12.20pm after three sheep were spotted in a rift which lay around 10ft below ground.

Two of the sheep were safely removed from the crevice, but the third sheep required further assistance after it became spooked during the previous rescue attempt, going deeper in the rift.

 

“The Fire Services were called out originally but said it wasn't their remit,” said Jean Smith, secretary of the Gwent Caving Club.

 

 

“The farmer managed to pull out two of the sheep, but the third was spooked and went deeper into the rift.”

 

The Gwent Caving Club volunteered to help the final sheep stuck below ground, a depth between 10ft and 30ft, and returned to the scene on Sunday morning.

During the rescue, the caving club’s chairman Jamie Larke abseiled into the rift to attach a sling around the sheep to bring it back to the surface.

“Jamie abseiled into the rift, where he was able to rig a sling around the sheep and pass it to fellow club member Andrew Sheehy and the farmer, Leighton Brickell,” added Mrs Smith.

“From that point they were able to lift it up the steep slope to freedom.”

Mr Larke, along with Mr Sheehy and Mr Brickell, were supported by Gwent Caving Club members Sharon Smith as well as Mrs Smith, who were on hand to help out if required in the rescue.

Mrs Smith added that the farmer was aware of how heavily pregnant the sheep was at the time, and he checked the ewe over once it was lifted to safety.

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UPDATE: 3.37pm

SOUTH Wales Fire and Rescue Service have confirmed the rescue of the final sheep trapped at the Blaenau Gwent landfill site.

Three sheep were reported trapped down a crevice, some 10-30ft in depth, on Saturday, although two had managed to free themselves.

The animal, unable to get out of the hole, was successfully removed by the Gwent Mines Rescue this afternoon in Aberbeeg.

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UPDATE: 1.00pm

JUST one sheep remains trapped at a landfill in Blaenau Gwent, with fire crews unlikely to re-attend to rescue the animal.

An Ebbw Vale crew were called to the site in Aberbeeg on Saturday at 12.20pm, after three sheep had fallen down 10ft into a crevice.

Two of the sheep had managed to free themselves and escape, leaving the third animal stuck for a fourth day.

A spokeswoman from the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said that crews would not be returning to the scene to free the sheep.

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FIREFIGHTERS were called this afternoon to a report three sheep had been trapped 10ft down a crevasse in a landfill in Blaenau Gwent, for the past three days.

A crew from Ebbw Vale went to the scene in Aberbeeg at 12.20pm to check on the animals, and found two had got themselves out.

The third remained stuck and the crew will return tomorrow, Sunday, to check on it.