East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service rescue deer in Buxted

Wardens from East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service (ESWRAS) were called to the animal’s aid in Buxted on Tuesday.

The “problematic” rescue was one of four different call outs concerning deer the service received that day.

"These rescues always worry me as they as so unpredictable, especially where they have long stretches of rope attached to them and can run over a wide area still,” said Trevor Weeks, ESWRAS lead rescuer at the scene.

“An adult fallow deer can weigh up to 90kg so they need to be dealt with carefully and with respect. This is not something I would suggest anyone tries to tackle on their own."

Rescuers from East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service attempting to free the deer (Image: East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service)

Rescuers shortened the rope to reduce the deer's ability to move and encouraged it to get further tangled in vegetation so it would keep more still.

This then allowed them to get into a position where the deer could be caught using a leg grab.

An ESWRAS spokesman said the stream bed and position the deer landed in was “far from ideal”, but rescuers soon had the animal secure.

They quickly freed the deer and the damaged rope, tree and ivy was removed.

"From the point at which rescuers secure the deer to the point of release this has to be less than 30 minutes or the deer is likely to be in a poor condition and not survive," said Mr Weeks.

"Electric rope fencing is the main cause of antler entanglements in deer, and often people don't think about where they are erecting rope.

“Sadly, people often use electric rope as other types of fencing are more expensive and costly to install, but every year it causes thousands of deer to become entangled and many are not spotted before they die of a heart attack."