They were trying to save an injured buck. Instead of slowing down and showing some basic humanity, drivers chose to accelerate towards the women putting their own lives on the line to rescue the animal. The shocking incident on Noak Hill Road late on Saturday night is a disgrace and raises serious questions about how anyone could find such behaviour entertaining.
Members of Harold Hill Deer Aid do an outstanding and vital job in our community. Their work helping injured wildlife survive is invaluable, and their dedication to protecting animals deserves our respect and support.
Yet late on Saturday evening and into the early hours of Sunday morning, Jan and Shantel found themselves facing a horrifying situation while attempting to rescue a buck on Noak Hill Road.
As the two women worked to help the injured animal, some drivers allegedly did something utterly appalling. Rather than slowing down when they saw the women in the road with the stag, they reportedly accelerated towards them.
Let that sink in. Two women were trying to save an injured animal, and instead of giving them space and allowing them to do their vital work, drivers allegedly chose to put both the rescuers and the animal in further danger.
Jan and Shantel were not only faced with the distressing task of helping an injured stag, but also had to contend with drivers whose actions allegedly created an additional and entirely unnecessary danger.
This is not a joke. It is not a game. And it is certainly not entertainment.
These women give up their time, work long hours and put themselves in difficult situations to help wildlife in our community. They do it because they care. They do it because injured animals need help. And they do it because our wildlife deserves the chance to survive.
The last thing they should have to worry about while carrying out a rescue is whether a driver is going to deliberately put them in harm’s way.
There is absolutely no excuse for behaviour that puts rescuers, other road users and vulnerable animals at risk. Anyone who sees people working in the road to rescue an injured animal should slow down, give them room and show some basic consideration.
Harold Hill Deer Aid plays an important role in helping our community live alongside the wildlife that shares our borough. Jan and Shantel deserve our gratitude, not to be placed in danger while doing something good.
If the reported actions of these drivers are accurate, they are truly shocking. Our wildlife rescuers should be able to carry out their work without fearing for their own safety.
Jan and Shantel were trying to save a life. The very least they deserved was to be allowed to do so safely.
A message from Harold Hill Deer Aid.
🚨 PLEASE SLOW DOWN WHEN YOU SEE ANIMAL RESCUE VOLUNTEERS TRYING TO HELP AN INJURED OR DISTRESSED ANIMAL. 🚨
We are out there trying to save lives, both human and animal, often in the dark, in all weathers, and in incredibly dangerous conditions.
We put ourselves at risk because we care, and because every injured animal deserves a chance.
Yet, incredibly, we regularly experience speeding and inconsiderate drivers at almost every road traffic accident (RTA) we attend.
The other evening was a frightening example.
We were trying to help a large buck who was clearly very unwell, disorientated and staggering in and out of the road. It was pitch black, with no street lighting, on a dark country road. We were doing everything we could to slow the busy traffic while trying to protect the buck, ourselves and other road users.
Despite clearly seeing us and the situation, one driver chose to accelerate and drive straight through. The vehicle appeared to be travelling at around 70 mph.
To think of what could have happened is terrifying.
An unwell, disorientated deer can move unpredictably. We were there trying to prevent a tragedy, yet the actions of one inconsiderate driver could have put us and the animal in even greater danger.
What if the buck had moved directly into the vehicle’s path? What if one of our volunteers had been hit?
PLEASE SLOW DOWN. GIVE US SPACE. FOLLOW OUR INSTRUCTIONS.
When you see animal rescue volunteers working on or beside a road, please remember that we are dealing with a potentially dangerous situation. We need drivers to be patient, alert and considerate.
We are volunteers giving our time to help wildlife in distress. We should not have to fear for our own lives while trying to save theirs.
🦌 💚
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