A hero farmer and partner saved their prized cattle from drowning after they got marooned at sea.
The 30 wagyu crossbreed cows got stuck at night on a rock 600ft off-shore, with the tide coming in.
They had escaped from Robin Kendall’s nearby farm and somehow, made their way down to the beach.
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A yachtsman luckily spotted it around 1am, and called the cops.
Robin rushed down to the beach with his father after being alerted by the police.
They then went back with Robin’s partner, Polly Dugmore, who waded in to help.
It happened on Colona Beach, Mevagissey, south of St Austell, Cornwall, on Thursday (1 Aug).
“The cattle had pulled a pin from a gate and somehow ended up on a rock offshore at Colona Beach,” Robin told Need To Know.
“My father and I waded in to save as many as we could, but we weren’t dressed for it.
“We soon got tired and our legs were getting scratched by the rocks.
“So we gave up on that and went back to the farm to get a boat.
“My partner, Polly Dugmore, then decided to put on her wetsuit and we returned to the beach with her.
“The coastguards had arrived by then with some lights and Polly was able to get out to the rocks to swim the cows to safety while we used the boat.
“The water was getting pretty deep by then but she relayed them off one or two at a time.
“It took around 90 minutes or so but eventually we got them all back none the worse apart from a few scratches.
“Polly is very fit and strong and an experienced surfer.
“But we were very lucky the sea was calm or it could have been a lot worse.”
A Mevagissey Coastguard spokesperson said: “The team were paged at 1:03am after a herd of thirty young cows became trapped on rocks.
“They were stranded by the rising tide about 200m off Colona beach.
“The team, together with Fowey RNLI, attended to provide safety cover while the farmers evacuated the cows in a race against the rising tide.
“The farmer used a small boat to bring them back one at a time.
“Simultaneously his partner swam back and forth to the rocks bringing back one or two young cows every time by encouraging them to swim.
“She did this for a marathon ninety minutes by which time the sea was up to their necks.
“But luckily all the cattle were brought safely to dry land.
“The coastguard team was booked off at around 4am.”
Fowey RNLI helm, James Dowrick, said: “We arrived on scene to see cattle in the water and on the rocks.
“However it was clear that the farmers had the situation under control and we supported them with torch light and monitored those in the water before returning back to the station once we were comfortable and everyone was safe.”
Locals were blown away by the farmers’ exploits.
Kathryn Worthington said: “Farmers are a different breed altogether.
“Absolutely hard as nails.
“Great results.
“Well done to all involved, especially the farmer’s partner, who in my books is now officially a living legend.”
Natalie Bucklar said: “Well done to all involved.
“And to the lady farmer – I’m in awe.
“That’s some achievement and bravery to swim in the sea for 90 minutes in the dark, absolutely amazing.”
And Sarah Louise Walker added: “I hope the farmer’s partner is very proud of herself – she sounds like a remarkable lady.”
