Polar bear gets a fireman's lift in South Yorkshire

They were called in to lend a hand when Victor, a favourite with visitors to Yorkshire Wildlife Park, needed a health check-up.

The 18-year-old polar bear, which weighs 530kgs, was anaesthetised so vets could examine his teeth and general health.

The park says he was quickly back to his old self after the two-hour procedure.

Fire Station Manager Dave Scully said: “This was certainly an unprecedented request for South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue.

“Whilst we wouldn’t routinely use our services in this way, we recognised Yorkshire Wildlife Park’s need for support during this complex operation due to the size of the animal. It meant Victor was able to receive the necessary medical treatment whilst allowing our crews the opportunity to test their skills using specialist animal rescue equipment.”