Firefighters and a vet spent three gruelling hours rescuing Lucky the horse after he slid into a six-foot deep ditch on Sheerness marshes.

The drama began when the 15-year-old cob cross was discovered exhausted and unable to move at the bottom of a water-filled dyke in a field next to Sheerness Holiday Park.

It is believed the horse, owned by Ross Lathwell-Fisher, of Sittingbourne, could have spent the entire night shivering in the ice-cold mud before being spotted.

VIDEO: Firefighters used a winch to haul Lucky the horse to safety

Kent Fire and Rescue’s specialist animal team used a winch and straps to slowly drag the frightened animal from the mud.

A vet was on hand to monitor the animal’s health and at one stage had to sedate him.

Mr Lathwell-Fisher’s partner Helen Scudder, of Minster, said: “We have renamed the horse Lucky.

“If he had not have been found when he was, he would have died in that ditch.”

She revealed Mr Lathwell-Fisher only took on the horse, originally dubbed Patch, three months ago after rescuing him from starvation.

The mother-of-two said: “That horse has now cheated death twice.”

She said: “I’ve kept horses for 40 years in that field and in stables and that’s the first time one has ever ended up in a ditch.

“I think the problem is that contractors recently used a digger to clean out the dyke and widen it.

“It’s very dangerous now – especially for animals and anyone walking near it. People should take care.”

She fed Lucky at 6pm on Friday.

Her daughter Parys Chapman and her partner Alex Cork discovered the horse trapped at 10am on Saturday and called 999.

Helen said: “Parys stayed with Lucky until the rescue teams arrived.

“She scrambled down into the ditch and rested Lucky’s head on her lap.

“She was soaked but remained calm and collected and played a massive part in his survival.”

The rescue has left the family with a £500 vet’s bill.

Helen added: “We’d like to thank everyone who helped including Emma Foreman who brought a rug for Lucky, Karen Mosdale of Danley Farm who sent bales of straw and hay and Beverley Gilbert and her daughter who delivered them, Steve Harcup, the girls on reception at the holiday park, several concerned caravan-owners and, of course, the fire crew who were fantastic. I can’t thank them enough.”

Lucky has now recovered from the ordeal after being taken home in a horse box and given a hot bath to clean away the caked-on dirt.