A SHETLAND pony trapped in a “hopeless” situation and “facing certain death” was plucked to safety from the bottom of a Gwbert sea cliff by an RSPCA Cymru team.

The dramatic rescue which involved 13 RSPCA officers was caught on film as the two-year-old pony – from Cardigan Island Coastal Farm Park – was winched an incredible 80 feet from a shingle bed to safety.

The rescue – from a cliff near Cardigan Golf Club – involved two RSPCA rope rescue teams, cliff rescue specialists and a boat team.

Among them was former Cardigan-based RSPCA inspector Richard Abbott – now chief inspector for Devon and Cornwall – who was summoned from the West County to provide his vast experience in rope rescues.

The RSPCA team reached the stranded pony via boat and sedated the frightened animal before winching it to safety.

The pony is believed to have been trapped for approximately one week, with an RSPCA officer commenting that he was “in a hopeless situation” prior to the rescue.

However, while the animal was weak and drained from the ordeal, he was found to be fit and well after veterinary inspection, and within half-an-hour was seen happy with other ponies at the nearby farm park.

RSPCA animal welfare officer Andrew Harris said: “This pony was in a hopeless situation – and facing certain death.

“Undoubtedly, this was one of the largest and most challenging rescues I have ever experienced – and it was amazing to be involved in such a happy ending.”

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