Septic rescue

By CASEY NEILL
ROSIE the filly’s miraculous escape from a 1.8 metre fall into a sewer pit has stunned and delighted her owners – and prompted warnings to others with septic tanks.
The two-year-old fell through a concrete lid on Fiona Normand and daughter Elizabeth’s Belgrave South farm about 8am last Tuesday 12 June.
Fiona was driving her husband to the airport. Elizabeth had let their eight horses out of their stables, put on their outdoor rugs, and fed them.
“I was inside the stables when I heard a very large crack and a scuffle in the front yard,” she said.
“I came out to see my horse half submerged in a sewer pit.
“It was actually horrific. I had to remind myself to keep breathing.
“I don’t think my pulse went down or my breathing steadied until Wednesday night.”
Elizabeth hadn’t known there was a pit there. The concrete had broken under Rosie’s weight and she’d fallen backwards into it.
“It’s incredibly concerning that an accident like this could happen,” she said.
“The horses have been over the concrete before with no issue. They will never be let near it ever again.
“It’s important for other people to be aware of.”
Eddie Sockett from E and J Septics pumped 1.2m of liquid from the tank while others poured warm water onto Rosie to prevent shock and hypothermia.
He said lids on old septic tanks like the Normands’ often cracked from the inside.
“You won’t notice the crack until they go altogether,” he said.
Mr Sockett said a child could easily have suffered a similar fate, and even drowned in the liquid. He urged people to check their tanks regularly.
“An adult could walk across it a thousand times,” he said.
“A child or an animal could walk across it and it could break.”
Elizabeth called her vet from Rosie’s side who recommended the SES. They were soon on the scene with the CFA and brought in a neighbour with an excavator to lift Rosie out using a giant sling. She was freed about 11am.
They were convinced she’d have broken bones, but she escaped with only cuts and bruises.
“When she put her weight on the back legs it was such a relief,” Elizabeth said.
“We’d really given up hope.
“We thought we’d have to put her down.”
She praised the emergency services crews. They’ve been following up with the Normands, asking how Rosie is faring.
“We were incredibly grateful,” she said.
“It wasn’t just a job to them.”
Belgrave Heights and South Fire Brigade’s Aaron Carlton said: “The minute you get them out makes your job worthwhile.”
A vet is making regular visits to monitor Rosie’s condition and the Normands are keeping an extra close eye on her.
“She’s the baby of the family,” Elizabeth said.
“All our horses are members of the family.”
Rosie was particularly special. She’s the first horse the family has bred. They’d planned to train her fore dressage next year but those plans are now on hold.
“Won’t know about long-term damage until after inflammation goes down,” Elizabeth said.
“But even if she can’t be ridden she’ll stay with us.”
In the meantime Rosie’s lapping up the attention and enjoying new rugs and plenty of carrots.
“She’s an incredibly tough cookie. She’s amazing us with her personality,” Elizabeth said.
“She’s got the spark back in her eye.
“She’ll be spoilt for a very long time to come.”