Mojokerto Sacrificial Cow Falls into Septic Tank, Rescue Operation Takes Three Hours

A sacrificial cow belonging to a resident in Ardilangu Hamlet, Ngembeh Village, Dlanggu District, Mojokerto, was successfully rescued after falling into a septic tank. The rescue operation took over three hours, involving more than a dozen personnel from Mojoanyar Fire Station 1 of the Mojokerto Regency Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), before the animal was successfully lifted alive. To lift the cow from the six-metre-deep pit, officers combined two tripod pulley systems. However, the evacuation proceeded slowly due to the narrow one-metre diameter of the hole, restricting movement. Two officers had to descend into the confined, airless pit to secure the cow. Mojoanyar Fire Station 1 Commander Sukamto explained the tight space was the main challenge. The ropes securing the cow repeatedly slipped due to the animal weakening inside the pit. “The main issue was the narrow hole diameter, making it difficult to secure the ropes to the cow. The ropes slipped multiple times as the animal grew weaker,” Sukamto said at the scene on Tuesday (26/5). Officers had to race against time as the lack of oxygen in the pit posed a risk of suffocation. As a precaution, they activated a blower to supply additional oxygen. The rescue operation, which began at 4:00 PM WIB, concluded at 7:20 PM WIB. Tensions remained high as the cow neared the surface, with officers and volunteers needing to exert extra effort due to the animal’s larger body size compared to the septic tank’s opening. After a prolonged struggle, the sacrificial cow was finally extracted from the pit, though in a severely weakened state.