Royal Marines join hunt for reindeer after Santa’s grotto escape | UK | News
The Royal Marines are called in to search for a reindeer that has escaped from Santa’s grotto. Mersey side. Southport Offshore Rescue Trust said sailors, the coastguard, police and a drone helped locate the missing person mammal At Formby Beach.
The reindeer went missing from Santa’s Enchanted Forest, a festive annual event in Formby, on Saturday, November 29. The foundation was alerted to the escape just before 5pm, sparking an eight-hour search. He posted on social media: “The reindeer eventually settled down, allowing a vet supported by the Royal Marines to secure him safely.
“Christmas was saved thanks to the fantastic work of many agencies.”
The charity said members of the quad bike team were assisting in the search, while coastguards from Southport and Crosby were called to help amid fears the beast could fall into the River Mersey.
Team members used thermal binoculars to spot reindeer on the beach. According to the foundation, the beast was directed towards the dunes at the Altcar Rifle Range and a police drone stood guard.
A spokesman for the foundation said: Telegram The reindeer went to some sand dunes and lay there and slept.
He said a veterinarian from Salisbury, 200 miles away, arrived with tranquilizers and, with the help of sailors, the furry escapee was secured.
The spokesman said: “It’s a bit odd really. When we phoned we thought it might be a roe deer. We’re all volunteers; our pagers are on 365 days a year. You can be sent wherever you want.”
One resident who spotted the rogue reindeer told the Formby Bubble: “At first we thought it was a deer but then the National Trust ranger asked if we had seen a real reindeer.
“We pointed them in the direction they were going; they were literally heading north, towards the coast. Then the police showed up. They were really worried about him getting on the road.”
Emergency services tend to treat lost reindeer-sized animals seriously because of the risks they can pose to themselves and drivers.
