This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/cow-swimming-in-aberdeen-harbour-disrupts-shipping-9575822.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Cow swimming in Aberdeen Harbour disrupts shipping Cow shot dead in Aberdeen Harbour after failed rescue attempt
(about 4 hours later)
Ships moving in and out of Aberdeen Harbour were stopped on Tuesday morning when a cow was spotted in the water. A cow has been shot dead in Aberdeen Harbour after efforts to rescue it from the sea failed.
The stricken animal is believed to have fallen while being unloaded from a vessel shortly after 8am. Coastguard vessels and lifeboats were called to coax the animal to safely as it struggled to stay afloat in the shipping channel, causing the harbour to temporarily close on Tuesday morning.
As it struggled to stay afloat in the shipping channel, the Coastguard were called to coax it out of the water. But when attempts to move the cow to dry land failed, police marksmen were called in.
A spokesman told STV: “Presumably they were loading it and it jumped into the harbour. A spokesman for Police Scotland said: "We assisted with the recovery of the animal which unfortunately had to be humanely destroyed on the advice of a vet.
“As far as we know it’s okay and they’ve got it on the slipway. "Destruction of the animal was the last resort. Public safety and animal welfare were considered after all other efforts to restrain the animal were unsuccessful."
It had been moved out of deep water by 9.15am but after hours of trying to retrieve the stranded animal from a slipway, rescuers gave up.
The cow had fallen into the sea while being loaded from a vessel onto a road transport float, according to a spokesman for NorthLink Ferries.
The Coastguard had previously been hopeful about the rescue, with a spokesman telling STV: “As far as we know it’s okay and they’ve got it on the slipway.
“We’ve got the Aberdeen lifeboat there and a couple of the harbour vessels. They shepherded it into shallower waters.”“We’ve got the Aberdeen lifeboat there and a couple of the harbour vessels. They shepherded it into shallower waters.”
Lifeboats from the RNLI also joined the effort as bemused onlookers watched from the quay.Lifeboats from the RNLI also joined the effort as bemused onlookers watched from the quay.
A spokesman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the cow was reported in the water just after 7.30am.
He added: "A pilot vessel and the local inshore lifeboat were among the vessels that assisted in herding the animal to a slipway. However, after assessment by a vet, the animal was put down."
Around 8,000 vessels arrive at Aberdeen Harbour every year, carrying five million tonnes of cargo, valued at approximately £1.5 billion.Around 8,000 vessels arrive at Aberdeen Harbour every year, carrying five million tonnes of cargo, valued at approximately £1.5 billion.