Anyone who’s spent time near the ocean knows how unpredictable it can be, and the tide is something you should never underestimate. It can quickly become dangerous, catching both humans and animals off guard. In rare instances, the tide can even lead to a slow and agonizing death. That’s exactly what nearly happened to Astro, an 18-year-old horse.
Nicole Graham, Astro’s owner, and her daughter were enjoying a ride on the beach near Geelong, south of Melbourne, Australia. However, their ride took a dangerous turn when they ventured onto soft sand, which quickly turned into a deadly mud trap. While Nicole’s daughter and her horse managed to escape, Nicole and Astro became stuck, with Astro sinking deeper into the muck. Soon, Astro was up to his neck in thick clay, facing the very real danger of choking.
For three hours, Nicole fought to keep Astro calm in a desperate attempt to save him. The situation grew worse with every passing minute. Astro, a 1,000-pound horse, was at risk of suffocation and death from exhaustion and dehydration. The tide was also creeping in, adding urgency to the situation.
Luckily, Nicole’s daughter managed to reach safety and contacted help. A rescue team and a veterinarian arrived on the scene, and the veterinarian administered a tranquilizer to calm Astro. Nicole remained by his side, speaking softly to him to help ease his distress. A helicopter was dispatched but couldn’t help due to Astro’s deep entrapment, which made it difficult to attach a rescue rope.
As the tide rose and the mud continued to swallow Astro, Nicole began to fear the worst. The rescue team’s attempts to dig him out proved futile, as the ground had become too soft, like quicksand. But just when all seemed lost, a farmer arrived on his tractor. With a rope attached to the vehicle, he worked with the rescue team and Nicole to pull Astro free.
Against all odds, the miracle happened. Astro was finally freed from the muck, and the rescue team celebrated their hard-fought success. Watch the stunning video of this miraculous rescue below!