A man was winched to safety via helicopter after getting stuck in mud in Tonimbuk this week.
Emergency services were called to the property on Bridal Road at about 2.45pm on Wednesday 27 August.
Shannon Munnerley was helping out on his father’s farm when some of the cattle got stuck in the “freezing” dam.
“I tried to walk around the back of the cow and scare them out like you normally do,” he said.
“I got to the middle one and I just sank all the way to my groin.”
His family made substituent attempts to free him from the water with no success and emergency services were called.
CFA, FRV, SES and Police were on scene shortly after, where they attempted various measures to free him.
However, Senior Constable Dean Wood explained that time became critical as the weather turned and Mr Munnerley was facing both continued sinking and rising water.
It was decided then to bring in Police Airwing, where the 49-year-old was extracted after more than two hours in the water.
Afterwards, Mr Munnerley was taken to the house where he had a warm shower that brought feeling back to his toes and authorities monitored him from there.
Meeting once more on Thursday afternoon, Constable Wood said he was glad to be able to shake his hand.
“I’ve seen plenty of farmers removed from dams they got stuck in, but I have never once seen one removed from a dam by a chopper,” he said.
The Large Animal Rescue Unit of Macclesfield Fire Brigade attended and extracted the cow, which was then attended to by West Gippsland Vet Care.
Unfortunately, the cow died later that day after sustaining significant injuries.
Bunyip, Nar Nar Goon and Longwarry Fire Brigades, Pakenham FRV, VICSES Pakenham and Ambulance Victoria also assisted police.
See footage of the rescue here: www.instagram.com/p/DN4MxEek3fR/
