Rambo the 100kg ram rescued after getting stuck in pipe

Firefighters have rescued a 100kg ram named Rambo after he became "firmly wedged" inside a concrete pipe.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said a crew from Somerton were alerted to the stranded sheep on Sunday - ensuring the fire station's 200th callout of the year would be a memorable one.

The fire service said the crew managed to slide Rambo out using "a number of different pieces of equipment", including a chimney rod, rope and a sheet placed underneath him.

His owner Bex Maynard, from Western Farm in Kingsdon, Somerset, said Rambo emerged from the tunnel "unceremoniously" but "completely unharmed".

She has since blocked both sides of the tunnel with metal grids to prevent "a repeat performance" while still allowing rainwater through.

To mitigate any embarrassment on Rambo's part, Maynard stressed that he currently has "nine rather amorous ewes all competing for his undivided attention".

"A chap is entitled to a little peace and quiet occasionally," she said.

"He maintains that he was simply taking a well-earned break from his romantic duties while simultaneously inspecting the structural integrity of the bridge from underneath.

"Rambo emerged completely unharmed and, judging by his expression afterwards, considerably less concerned by the whole episode than everyone else involved."

The fire service said due to the "unique nature" of the incident, the crew had to "think outside the box" to pull off the rescue, relying on equipment carried on the fire engine.

"Using our chimney rods, the crew were able to feed a [rope] around Rambo, while a hearth sheet was carefully positioned underneath him," they said.

"Once everything was safely in place, the line was pulled, allowing Rambo to slide along the sheet and out of the pipe.

"A happy Rambo was then left in the care of the farmers."

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