Firefighters rescue messy mule named Squealy stuck in mud

By Jack Fifield

Firefighters have rescued a hungry mule who got stuck in the mud as she searched for food.

Squealy, aged 9, snuck out of her home in Great Hallingbury, Essex, and walked to a neighboring property through a disconnected section of fence on Wednesday, Aug. 19.

But what she thought was green grass on solid ground was actually growing on top of a dried-up moat — and she quickly sank and was unable to get out.

Surprised owner Carole Travell, 68, discovered her in the afternoon, and promptly called the fire brigade for help.

Carole said: "She has food and water and shelter and friends, but they're all getting sick to death of just having very dry hay, because we haven't had any rain.

"There was a piece of fence which I hadn't seen which was slightly disconnected.

"Mules are very, very clever and she obviously thought 'I'll wriggle past that, go for a walk, and see if I can find something nicer to eat.'

"She crossed the lane and on the other side of the lane there's a dry moat.

"It had got a green film on it, and it looked dry, but actually it's mud with a crust on it.

"She presumably went and thought 'I'll have some of that lovely green delicious stuff,' and sank in it."

The donkey-horse cross, who was brought over from Ireland about four years ago, was freed about three hours after she was discovered.

Firefighters dug around Squealy to help her get free, and Carole said Squealy seemed to understand she was being helped.

Carole said: "I sat with her and talked to her — she wasn't panicking or thrashing around, she was very calm.

"If they trust you, they trust you — if they don't, you'll be in trouble."

Essex Fire crew manager Joe Fisher said: "The crew worked incredibly hard to dig around the [animal] and eventually we were able to free her.

"It was such a relief to see her up and about, eating and reuniting with her herd, and she even came up to us and let us stroke her."