NEW JERSEY -- A deer in New Jersey is running free thanks to a state trooper in New Jersey who hightailed it into action to save the buck drowning in a swimming pool.

New Jersey State Police said on Facebook that Trooper Dwayne Phillips was dispatched to a home in Harmony Township in Warren County after someone discovered the drowning deer in a pool. When the trooper arrived, it was clear that the buck had been struggling for quite some time, and was in desperate need of help.

“Now believe it or not, we don’t necessarily teach recruits in the academy how to rescue drowning deer, but we do teach them how to think on their feet and adapt and improvise when a peculiar situation presents itself,” state police said on Facebook.

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According to the Facebook post, Phillips grabbed the deer by its antler rack, and pulled it to safety.

“Now, there is always the possibility of serious injury or worse when trying to rescue a drowning victim and even more so when the victim is a wild animal. But this trooper did an outstanding job!” state police said.

State police said the deer was so exhausted that it was on the ground for some time before it could even regain the energy to stand.

“We are happy to report that the buck eventually recovered and ran off,” state police said.