Tragic horse accident in Neuenkirchen: Fire brigade can only rescue!

Tragic horse accident in Neuenkirchen: Fire brigade can only rescue!

In Neuenkirchen, in the Cuxhaven district, the volunteer fire department had to cope with a sad operational scenario on Wednesday, November 12, 2025. The fire department was called around 10 a.m. after a horse fell into a deep ditch and could no longer free itself. The emergency services were there within a few minutes. But the horse's condition was critical. According to reports from CNV Medien, the animal had probably been in the ditch for several hours and was severely weakened.

After consulting with a veterinarian, the horse's chances of survival were deemed to be too low, which led to a painful decision: the animal had to be rescued. In the presence of the owners, the horse was finally rescued from the ditch, but only dead. The operation lasted around an hour and a half before the fire brigade could move in again.

Growing importance of large animal rescue

The incident in Neuenkirchen is not an isolated case. Fire departments in Germany are increasingly being called to operations where animals need to be rescued in emergencies. pferde.de reports on the example of the Hohenkirchen volunteer fire department, which specializes in large animal rescue and records several hundred missions every year. This trend is increasing, although the fire brigade's motto always remains “rescue - extinguish - recover - protect”.

The idea for specialization developed three years ago after an operation with a bull. The fire department subsequently took special courses from the ComCavalo company, for example to learn methods for freeing horses from emergencies. The platoon leader Tizian Gutsche emphasizes how important the right equipment and knowledge of the “kick zone” in horses are in order to be able to work safely with the animals.

Technical large animal rescue – an important topic

The need for such training is becoming increasingly clear as the deployment increases. Experts estimate that more than one rescue operation for large animals has to be carried out per day in Germany. The training is now supported by innovative aids, such as a 200 kg dummy named Pedro, which simulates realistic conditions. As MDR reports, technical large animal rescue was originally developed in England, on the instructions of Queen Elizabeth II.

The training courses are not only important for horse owners; The techniques learned can also be used on other animals, such as donkeys or cows. Given the real challenges of rescuing large animals, raising awareness among fire departments remains an important goal. The volunteers who work in the fire departments always show a great commitment to the animals and their rescue.

The operation in Neuenkirchen may have come to a sad end for the fire brigade, but it clearly shows how important a well-trained fire brigade is for animal protection. Their skills could ensure the rescue of many animals in the future.