A firefighter was caught on camera rushing to the aid of a struggling young deer after an ice fishing trip turned into an act of selfless bravery.
The incident was captured on video last week at Panguitch Lake in Utah, in the US, where Bransen Jackson and a friend first spotted the fawn trapped on the frozen lake.
In the video Mr Jackson, who is also a hunting guide, is seen to approach the beleaguered animal as it struggles in the ice before scooping it up and taking it to safety.
Speaking to KUTV about the rescue he said: "I looked over there and squinted, [and said] 'Dude, that’s a deer!' We gotta go save it of course!
"We slowly just started making our way over there, at one point his boot actually went through a crack in the ice.
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"So it was really thin, but I was like ‘we can’t just let this deer sit there.
"Should I try to push it, or should I try to pick it up? I was like man this might kick me if I try to pick it up.
"I picked it up and it was super calm, super docile, like it kind of understood OK these guys are going to try and help me.
"I picked up the deer and [the ice] cracked a little bit, and I was like ‘Oh my gosh,’ and I so I just hurried up and took off for the shore and hoped for the best.
"Honestly, I was expecting to pick it up and get kicked and it would start thrashing about and freak out, but it was just so docile and like ‘I can’t do this on my own, this help is great.’"
After regaining its footing at the side of the frozen lake the animal ran off into the hills.
