A reindeer's bid for freedom from a Christmas event in Formby, Merseyside, sparked a major multi-agency operation on Saturday afternoon. The animal fled a festive celebration, prompting armed police, Royal Marines, and coastguard teams to launch a search.
The reindeer was eventually located on Formby beach using thermal binoculars by the Southport Offshore Rescue Trust (Southport Lifeboat). It had been tracked by Merseyside Police for several hours but lost sight of it near the beach, raising fears it might enter a nearby river.
Lifeboat quad bikes helped shepherd the exhausted animal into sand dunes, where a police drone monitored it. A vet travelled from Salisbury with sedatives, and Royal Marines, who were training nearby, assisted in sedating the reindeer at around 1:20 am on Sunday.
The reindeer was returned safely to its owners in Wales. Southport Lifeboat described the operation as 'bizarre' but 'topical for the time of year,' adding, 'Christmas is saved thanks to some great work from multiple agencies.' Merseyside Police thanked all involved for bringing the situation to a safe conclusion.
