A SOUTH Cumbrian family have been left distraught after floods claimed the life of their loyal and beloved horse.
Judy Adams with her beloved horse Connor Judy Adams and her husband Dave were devastated to find out that their black and white piebald cob, Connor, had perished after being overwhelmed by the flood waters near their house at Gilpin Bridge near Levens.
Connor was pulled out of his stable on Saturday evening in a valiant rescue attempt but was spooked by the flashing lights of cars and charged away in search of higher land.
Mrs Adams said that Connor was found not far from where he escaped on Saturday just before midnight. Tragically his hooves had been caught in the fencing of a neighbouring field and he drowned.
Mrs Adams said: "They say it would have been a quick passing, he wouldn't have suffered for too long after he left. I'm heartbroken.
Anna Mackay and Linda Taylor lead some of the horses to safety at Levens, near Kendal.
"I am still so thankful to the people who risked their lives to try and save Connor on Saturday night. Mark Edmondson and his wife Rachael went down to the stable with my brother Drew. The water was over the bonnet of the tractor, at least eight feet. They managed to pull Connor out of his stable, it means the world that people were so kind and so brave."
Connor's companion, a goat named Brooke, is still missing and is known to be petrified of water.
Connor was a much-loved horse and Mr and Mrs Adams have been touched by the way in which friends, neighbours and strangers came together to search for him and help in any way they could.
The equine population suffer especially harshly at the hands of floods as they can get trapped and often the emergency services are stretched too thinly to help them.
In Levens the equestrian community pulled together to rescue horses and ponies who were caught in the torrents of Storm Desmond.
Horse owners Anna Mackay, Linda Taylor and Glynis Bland braved the freezing cold waters to swim horses to safety and higher ground over the weekend.
The water had risen up to five feet and darkness was falling as the brave women guided the horses to safety. Without enough headcollars the horses were then ushered towards waiting helpers and led to the barn on Mrs Bland's farm.
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