Fire crews rescue scores of pigs from County Antrim slurry pit

By Adam Evans

Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue says it's saved the most animals it ever has in a single operation.

72 pigs have been saved - and two died after falling into a slurry pit on a farm in County Antrim on Sunday morning.

It happened when the concrete platform they were standing on collapsed beneath them by the Ballinderry Road in Aghalee.

29 firefighters were called to respond to what was described as a "dangerous operation".

Group Commander, Geoff Somerville from NIFRS told Q Radio: "We currently have rescued 67 live pigs at approximately 100 kilos per pig, so a huge and complex operation but unfortunately we have also removed the carcasses of two pigs."

.@NIFRSOFFICIAL Group Commander Geoff Somerville with latest from scene of incident at farm on Ballinderry Road, Aghalee. “Very successful outcome” most of the pigs saved ... pic.twitter.com/sUiOgxd1Ke

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) July 29, 2018

Adding, "I have to praise the crews here working extremely hard in filthy conditions - it is a dangerous operation, the gases that come off from slurry can certainly overcome anyone working in these areas".

He appealed to the public to be careful when working around slurry on farms.

Aghalee farmer Nigel Grant praises @NIFRSOFFICIAL for saving more than 70 pigs from slurry tank. “Old saying - whoever owns the cows in the drain will pull hardest on the rope...they didn’t own the stock but pulled hard on the rope.” More on air at 6 and https://t.co/boX2EdCtC7 pic.twitter.com/UaOuWkurNq

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) July 29, 2018

70 pigs trapped in slurry tank near Aghalee @NIFRSOFFICIAL launches major operation in attempt to save them. pic.twitter.com/o0RPxzF5cm

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) July 29, 2018