Northern Ireland

Scottish farmer saves calf from choking on 5ft balloon that had flown 50 miles from Belfast

The 5ft balloon had flown 50 miles from Belfast. Picture by Robert Fleming/ Twitter
The 5ft balloon had flown 50 miles from Belfast. Picture by Robert Fleming/ Twitter The 5ft balloon had flown 50 miles from Belfast. Picture by Robert Fleming/ Twitter

A SCOTTISH farmer has told how he had to save a calf from choking on a 5ft balloon that had flown 50 miles from Belfast.

Robert Fleming from Glenluce said he pulled the silver birthday balloon from the animal's throat after finding it in distress on Tuesday.

He said a message written on the balloon in Belfast invited whoever found it to let him know on social media via a hashtag.

In a furious message posted on Twitter, Mr Fleming warned people of the dangers of letting inflatables loose and said the "consequences can be fatal".

"You might think it's harmless fun but I've just had to pull a 5ft birthday balloon out of the mouth of a choking calf,' he wrote.

Mr Fleming later said that the animal was now "a picture of health", but only "by luck I was in the right place at the right time to ensure her safety".

He said he felt he needed to highlight the risks that balloons pose.

"The issue with these innocent stray balloons is the fact they can occasionally land in with innocent curious animals," he said.

"Much like a toddler, a cow uses its mouth to explore objects.

"Sometimes the consequences can be fatal. Even so-called 'bio-degradable' can kill animals."