Loggers' sheep dip saves lambs

A gang of four Speirs Logging Company workers saved 15 lambs and three ewes from imminent death in Wairarapa yesterday.

When Mathew Harrison and three of his workmates spied a small flock of sheep stranded on a little patch of grass they stripped off their clothes and jumped into floodwaters to save them.

The four Speirs Logging Company workers didn't make it to work yesterday but saved 15 lambs and three ewes from imminent death.

Mr Harrison told the Times-Age he and his workmates, whom he identified as Nathan, Brandon and Alex, were heading to work near Castlepoint early yesterday when they noticed the sheep struggling in a flooded paddock.

The flooding had been caused by the Whareama River overflowing.

"The bridge was flooded and we couldn't get through," Mr Harrison said.

"We saw the lambs were swimming in the water and the ewes were standing in quite deep water.

"They were paddling the water ... the lambs would have drowned," he said.

All four got in to help. Driving rain didn't deter them.

"We stripped down and jumped in and lifted them over the fence and put them on higher ground."

However, two lambs just lay on the ground exhausted, so they took them to a neighbouring farm, Mr Harrison said.

"They knew who they belonged to and put them somewhere safe."

He said he didn't think twice about rescuing the lambs and believed his compassion for animals came from his mother, who once owned a pet shop in Wainuiomata.

"It's just what you do," he said.

The group had to turn back to Masterton after the rescue because the road was flooded.