Volunteer firefighters in South Tyrol rescue cow from wellness hotel swimming pool

Discovery at the wellness hotel

Shortly after dawn on Wednesday, 30 September 2026, the owners and managers of a wellness hotel in Val Venosta, located within the province of Bolzano in Trentino-Alto Adige, discovered an unexpected presence inside their outdoor swimming pool. A cow that had strayed from its regular route was found standing trapped in the water. The incident took place during the morning hours when facility staff arrived to inspect the wellness grounds and noticed the large livestock animal fully immersed in the pool basin. The hospitality operators realized that the animal had entered the commercial property unnoticed and was completely unable to extricate itself from the water.

Straying from pasture and pool cover damage

The bovine had separated from its group, likely losing its way during the transit back from seasonal grazing pastures situated in the surrounding Alpine terrain. After wandering into the private perimeter of the wellness resort, the animal walked directly across the terrace and onto the protective covering installed over the swimming pool. The structure was unable to withstand the weight of the heavy livestock, causing the cover to break through entirely. The cow plunged into the pool below and remained stuck inside the deep basin, as the vertical tiled walls and water level prevented the animal from stepping back onto dry land.

Mobilization of Tubre volunteer firefighters

Recognizing that the animal could not be removed without professional emergency equipment, the hotel management contacted local emergency services early on Wednesday morning with an urgent report describing a cow inside the pool basin. Dispatchers transferred the call to the volunteer fire brigade of Tubre, a small village located in the neighboring Val Monastero. A specialized response unit from the volunteer station was mobilized immediately to handle the technical rescue. Upon their arrival at the hotel property in Val Venosta, the firefighters confirmed that the cow remained standing in the water without panic and began planning an extraction maneuver.

Harness extraction and final recovery

To carry out the rescue without inflicting injuries on the animal or endangering personnel, the Tubre volunteer firefighters deployed a heavy-duty lifting harness. Emergency workers carefully positioned the straps around the torso of the submerged cow directly inside the swimming pool. Once the rigging was fastened securely, the team used mechanical leverage to pull and lift the bovine upward out of the water basin. The firefighters guided the animal over the edge of the pool deck and safely onto the surrounding solid ground.

Safe return to agricultural surroundings

The rescue operation concluded with no injuries to the cow and no accidents among the responding firefighters. A physical examination confirmed that the animal had suffered no wounds, broken bones, or lasting trauma despite falling through the pool cover and spending time in the cold water. With the extraction successfully completed, the animal was dried, secured, and released from the wellness establishment to return safely to its agricultural surroundings in the valley.