A CREW from Mudeford Lifeboat was summoned to rescue an unusual victim from the waters just off the beach at Mudeford over the weekend.

A distressed young male deer spooked by a dog barking on the beach had run into the sea along from Avon Beach Cafe at 11am on Sunday morning.

Debbie Doe, Mudeford RNLI press officer, said: "We had a report that a deer was stuck between two beach huts just along from the cafe. Once the deer was freed it was scared by a dog and ran into the sea.

"The deer was very distressed and although RNLI do not normally launch to rescue animals, the decision was made to launch in case members of the public decided to go into the water to assist the deer, putting their own lives at risk.

"As you can imagine the scene gathered quite a crowd."

Vet Luisa Day, from Priory Veterinary Group, said: "It was quite dramatic. The deer shot out from between the beach huts and bolted towards Highcliffe.

"People were quite slow to get hold of their animals and one particular dog decided to pursue it.

"Once we had got it out of the sea, I gave it a light sedative and with the RSPCA officer's help carried it back to the car to be examined and warmed up."

The deer escaped with only minor injuries to its hooves.

  • The headline for this story came from a 2CR listener on the Headline Game on the Paul Bunker Show.