Batten down the hutches: Bumper the flying rabbit rescued from rooftop

Bumper the rabbit in the arm of the firefighter who came to his rescue. Photograph: Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service/PA

They say rabbits can jump up to a height of one metre and a distance of three metres. Or, it seems, rather more if they catch the wind.

Bumper the rabbit was discovered just after 9am on Friday atop the roof of his owner’s home in Omagh, Co Tyrone, after fierce winds from Storm Gertrude knocked over his hutch and catapulted him into the air.

Bumper the rabbit on the roof of the family home in Omagh. Photograph: PA

The Northern Ireland fire and rescue service raced to the scene in the town’s Deverney Road area, deploying a ladder to enable a firefighter to climb up to the frightened rabbit with a carrot to calm his nerves and a water rescue pole to bring him back to earth.

Pictures from the scene showed a firefighter gently cradling the shocked rabbit in his arms. Bumper has now been reunited with his owner and was unharmed by the ordeal, the fire service said.

A firefighter equipped with a ladder and carrot attempts to coax Bumper down. Photograph: PA

A spokesperson for the fire service said firefighters were called at 9.16am and sent one engine to the scene. “Bravo Watch Omagh came to the rescue of Bumper the rabbit this morning, after Storm Gertrude blew over his hutch catapulting him on to the roof of this bungalow,” the spokesperson said.

Bumper has been reunited with his owner and was unharmed by the ordeal. Photograph: PA

“Bumper is now safe in the care of his owner and none the worse for his ordeal. One short extension ladder, one reach pole, and one particularly tasty carrot were used by personnel at the incident.”