Runaway reindeer sparks emergency rescue operation in Merseyside

"Christmas is saved" after a large search operation for a runaway reindeer found the animal on a beach in Merseyside, emergency services have said.

The reindeer had escaped a festive event in Formby early on Saturday afternoon, with Southport Offshore Rescue Trust receiving a call at around 4.45pm to assist in the search.

Named Buddy, it was spotted on nearby roads as it made its way to the beach, according to Merseyside Police.

The force was concerned the reindeer might end up in a nearby river, so they called in the lifeboat quad team, as well as coastguard teams from HM Coastguard Southport and HM Coastguard Crosby to help.

The Southport Offshore Rescue Trust team managed to locate the animal using thermal binoculars and then used quad bikes to shepherd it into some nearby sand dunes, where a police drone was used to monitor the animal.

After it lay down in the sand dunes to rest, a vet travelled from Salisbury, Wiltshire, with sedatives, and plans were made to tranquilise the animal and then get it in a trailer and back to its stable.

The vet was supported by the Royal Marines, who were on exercise in a nearby firing range, and managed to sedate the animal at around 1.20am on Sunday morning.

Buddy has since been returned to its owners in Wales.

Southport Offshore Rescue Trust, also called Southport Lifeboat, said in a statement that "Christmas is saved thanks to some great work from multiple agencies".

A spokesperson for Southport Lifeboat also described the evening's events as "bizarre", adding: "It's quite topical for the time of year, isn't it?"

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Merseyside Police Chief Inspector Jacqueline Overy added: "It's not every day we're called upon to track a reindeer, but thanks to the coordinated efforts of a number of specialist agencies, we were able to monitor his movements and locate him in the dunes even as darkness fell.

"The reindeer had posed a genuine risk both to its own safety and the public by entering roads, and it was vital that he was secured."

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