Steve Gives Sheep Kiss Of Life

Heroic Steve Marsden dived into a swollen river to save a sheep - and then gave it the kiss of life!

Eventually the sheep started coughing up grass and water,opened her eyes,struggled to her feet and staggered away - without a bleat of thanks.

Steve and his wife Janet were walking their dog Spot by the River Goyt in New Mills,Derbyshire,when they spotted the struggling animal.

Steve,33,jumped fully-clothed into the river to pull it out but there was no sign of life,so he started to resuscitate it.

Janet said "We had walked down to the canal at Furness Vale when the dog started barking at something by the river.

"Then the sheep lifted its head and we saw that it was caught by a tree.

"Steve ran down by the banking,but by now the sheep had broken free of the branches and was under water,and the river was flowing very fast.

"But we could see it was still struggling and couldn't leave it."

Steve,a former member of the Derbyshire Cave Rescue Organisation,jumped into the water and managed to grab the sheep.

Janet said "After a lot of struggling,he dragged the animal to the bank and got it out.By now there was no sign of life.

"I ran with the dog to a farm nearby and the farmer's daughter came back with me.

"By the time we got there,Steve had given the sheep the kiss of life and pummelled its chest.

"It coughed up grass and water and then opened its eyes.When we got back,it was trying to stand.Eventually it got up and walked away very shakily."

Steve,who has helped in several animal rescues during his time with Cave Rescue,said "This is the first,and hopefully the last,time that I will have to give a sheep the kiss of life."