The cow was being loaded on to a ship in Fremantle harbour when it broke free and swam away, evading capture for at least 24 hours

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

A cow has made a dash for freedom while being loaded on to a ship for live export, jumping into the water at Fremantle harbour in Western Australia and swimming away.

It then outsmarted its pursuers, running off along the beach where it was still missing 24 hours later.

Fremantle Sea Rescue member Josh Gammon-Carson filmed the cow swimming in the water while he drove towards it on a jetski and tried to herd it back to shore on Sunday afternoon.

The cow eventually swam to shore where veterinarians and Fremantle port staff were waiting but it ran off south along the beach.

Morrissey to Barnaby Joyce: 'If meat is murder, live export is the slow boat to hell' Read more

It was spotted more than 7km away at North Coogee later in the night.

The animal was one of 10 cattle being unloaded from a truck at Fremantle wharf by live export shipping company Wellard.

All 10 briefly escaped when they were incorrectly unloaded, owing to miscommunication that caused the truck driver not to follow procedures, a Wellard spokesman said.

Eight were quickly rounded up, one heifer injured its legs and was immediately euthanised, and the escapee jumped into the water.

Rangers and Wellard stockmen spent Sunday night and Monday looking for the cow after it was spotted by a member of the public at North Coogee, a City of Cockburn spokeswoman said.

“It’s a hot day. We’re quite worried about this poor guy,” she said, with temperatures rising to about 37C on Monday.



