Hero teen helps save trapped deer

A teenager who refused to leave a young stag tangled in rubbish was hailed a hero by his family.

Christine Keogh said her 13 year-old son Niall was a “hero” after the incident in Laois on Monday. She explained that Niall, who has autism and loves nature and walking, was adamant that the stag be rescued.   

He had been out walking with her mother Caroline when the pair came across the young trapped stag in Ballybrittas. 

Recalling the moment they found the stag in a ditch, Caroline said Niall “had to save him and that was it.” Describing her grandson, she said, “Niall, he’s brilliant, he loves animals and nature, simple stuff that people don’t see.”

Caroline believes the stag may have gone into the ditch to drink before becoming entangled in what she thinks was bailing wrap. “He(the stag) was blended in well with the bank and the trees,” she explained.  She believes the animal would have died if they hadn’t intervened to save it. 

Initially she rang an animal rescue charity but they had no one available at the time. She then tried gardai but they too weren’t sure how long it might take.  

Caroline, who works in healthcare in Mountmellick, then went home and got some gardening implements. However, she soon realised that she would be unable to free the animal safely without help and although Niall wanted to try it himself, she didn’t believe it was safe. “I promised him I would get him out,” she recalled.  

At Niall’s insistence she returned and asked her neighbour, William Flood,  if he would help.  The trio returned and found the deer in the same spot. “At that stage he(the stag) was going bananas…it was horrendous to look at.” she said. 

With help from Niall and Caroline, William managed to keep the stag at bay with a rake while he used a knife and clipping shears to cut the wrap that was entangling the deer. Caroline praised Niall for his actions on the day, “he’s a hero,” she said. 

Niall’s mother Christine said her son wanted to highlight the dangers of dumped rubbish in the area. She believes the incident with the stag is a perfect example of the threat that dumping poses to wildlife.   

Christine said Niall, who attends St Francis School in Portlaoise, is very concerned about dumping in the area. She said the deer “got away safely. He was just very stressed” but it could have died because of the rubbish. 

She praised her neighbour William and described Niall as a “hero” for helping the animal and highlighting the dumping in the area.