Peak District rescuers save stranded sheep after it got stuck on cliff ledge at beauty spot

Mountain rescuers swung into action to save a sheep stuck on a precarious cliff ledge at the picturesque Stanage Plantation in Derbyshire's Peak District. The Edale Mountain Rescue team was called out to rescue the stranded ewe.

Initially, they attempted to ensnare the animal with a lasso but had to switch tactics when it didn't work. Instead, they abseiled down and secured the sheep in a special rescue bag.

Happily, the sheep was unscathed and returned to her field after an examination by its farmer. The rescue wrapped up at 4.21pm yesterday, with the team posting about their 'cragfast ewe' operation on social media.

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A spokesperson for Edale Mountain Rescue shared: "We were called to assist a cragfast ewe on a ledge above Stanage Plantation." They detailed the effort, "Team members set up a rope system back from the edge in order to access the ledge above the sheep."

Relaying the turn of events, the spokesperson said: "We left the lasso-the-sheep challenge to our newly qualified MCI mountaineering instructor but he failed so we reverted to the trusted technique of distracting it (with both a stick and a sheepdog) from below whilst two team members lowered down to it and wrestled it in to the sheep rescue sack."

Once safely bundled up, "it was then quickly lowered to the floor uninjured where the farmer and his son checked it over and released it off back to graze".

The team expressed gratitude: "Thanks to Nick (farmer) and Will (his son) and also to the super helpful climbing community who spotted the sheep with their bouldering mats in case it turned in to a woolly jumper."

The Edale Mountain Rescue team, after rescuing a ewe from a precarious ledge, were alerted to another sheep with a broken limb further down the crag. They managed to secure and transport this second injured animal in their rescue sack.

A spokesperson for the team shared their heartfelt message: "Our best wishes to all of our casualties today. We hope ewe all get well soon."