Lamb rescued from busy motorway after being stranded in traffic for two days

20 February 2024 , 17:19

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Elliot Flynn, with the lamb that he rescued from the central reservation of the M1 in Northamptonshire (Image: National Highways/SWNS)

A poor lost lamb had a lucky escape after surviving for two days in the middle of busy motorway traffic. The brave little animal was spotted on the M1 with rescuers coming to its aid.

National Highways workers acted quickly to save the lamb, before giving it warm milk at the nearest service station. The rescue mission started on Sunday, February 18, near Watford Gap Services in Northamptonshire, after reports said there was a stranded animal on the road.

Despite many searches, officers could not find the lamb until Elliot Flynn decided to slow down traffic for a better look. Eventually, he spotted the frightened creature cowering in the central reservation, which was so dirty it was camouflaged against the safety barrier and difficult to see.

Elliot was then cheered and applauded by motorists who had been brought to a standstill as he was able to carry the lamb - they nicknamed Gappy - back to safety. He said: "As I walked over the lamb came straight over to me and started cuddling up against my leg so I was able to pick her up and get her to safety. People in the stopped traffic were clapping and cheering when they saw what I was doing. The lamb was tired and hungry because she had been out there for at least two days so we took her to the nearby Watford Gap outstation and gave her some warm milk."

Having grown up on a farm, Elliot knew the lamb's mother would have a matching number on her. So he drove to the field which the runaway was thought to have escaped from and found a sheep with the same number. Elliot said: "The mum was there with another newborn and as soon as she saw her lost lamb she was licking her to get it clean and Gappy started feeding. We were so pleased to reunite her with her mum."

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The farmer was notified so he could get Gappy checked over and fortunately there were no signs of any injuries despite spending two days next to high speed traffic.

National Highways operations manager Simon Mansfield said: "We get a lot of animals on our network and we have to react quickly to get them to safety as soon as possible and to protect road users. This lamb was difficult to spot hidden behind the barrier and trapped between two lanes of fast moving traffic."

Rom Preston-Ellis