Further to my previous post about people stupidly walking onto the exposed mud at Chasewater, some pictures have been published on the Chasewater Wildlife Group’s daily diary of the incident with the horses. Since the group’s site was unfortunately down for a few days last week, Graham Evans has kindly given me permission to publish the pictures here. For those who think it’s all good fun and that we’re all being killjoys, take a look at these images. The person responsible for the plight of that horse really should be ashamed of themselves.
Graham had this to say:
‘Just how they got so deep in the silt I’m not sure… by the time I’d driven round to the Chasewater Heaths Station and walked to the end of Fly Bay the larger horse had scrambled out of the silt leaving just the smaller pony, as shown by the photos. By this time the Police hellicopter was overhead and a group of people had gathered on the shore where there was also the other child and pony. As I walked back to the car I met a chap who asked me if I’d seen 2 horses because there were 2 fire engines by the station and they didn’t know where to go to help!
The following day I photographed two adult dog walkers crossing the same area (photo attached) and the man had mud up to his waist!’
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. The mud may look harmless, but it has the potential to be deadly. Will it actually take a serious injury or worse for some people to get this into their heads? This very evening I’ve received a comment from Pablo Oplywiss, which recounts the following:
‘Went over today to walk dinner off with the family & feed the ducks – it was very busy as the Transport Show (which we weren’t aware of…) was packing up. Walked up from the main entrance to the station, & back along the original waters edge to the duck feeding bridge, to bump into an elderly couple, husband in wheelchair.
There was a shape right in the middle of the clearing, up to his waist in the silt. Just as we started spouting how much of an idiot he was, 2 St. John’s guys ran out & started same, only louder. Said idiot waded out. On telling the couple about the horses, bombs, grenades, etc, they responded: ‘Oh it’s OK – he’s our son. He’s a teacher, so he knows what he’s doing’.
Our children’s futures are safe in his hands.’
Bloody muppets.
Horse nearly submerged in sludge - Image supplied by Chasewater Wildlife Group
Horse struggles to escape mud - Image supplied by Chasewater Wildlife Group
Bedraggled, the poor beast manages to escape - Image supplied by Chasewater Wildlife Group
Not sure what these pair are up to, but there's clearly been a close encounter of the silty kind - Image supplied by Chasewater Wildlife Group