Vets pulled off a dramatic rescue of an elephant in Thailand after carrying out CPR by jumping up and down on her chest.

The animal’s one-year-old calf had slipped into a concrete drain at a golf course during monsoon rains in central Nakhon Nayok province.

Its 10-year-old mother stood guard over her calf but when wildlife volunteers tranquilised the older elephant she hit her head on the edge of the concrete structure, knocking her unconscious, and she also fell in.

A truck-mounted cherry picker crane was used to pull the mother out before vets climbed on top of her to perform CPR.

Meanwhile a digger cleared away earth so the calf could climb out of the 7ft-deep hole.

It took the team more than three hours to finish the operation.

Khao Yai National Park Department vet Dr Chananya Kanchanasarak said: “It was impossible to get near the baby while the mother was nearby so we gave her three doses of tranquilisers but she moved towards her baby before passing out and hit her head.”

Chemical castration may be offered to sex offenders in Thailand in return for less prison time

109 live animals – including 35 turtles and 20 snakes – found in women’s luggage

Cult leader whose followers ‘consumed bodily fluids and worshipped corpses’ is arrested after 11 bodies found during raid

Dr Chananya said the mother “regained consciousness after being stimulated by both me and the baby”.

Soon after the pair were pulled from the drain, the calf began suckling its mother.

Dr Chananya added: “Despite the obstacles, the mother did not leave her baby’s side.

“This experience touched our hearts and will be one of the most memorable rescues we’ve done.”

Related posts:

Bangladesh moves fourth group of Rohingya refugees to remote, flood-prone island Japan’s ban on same-sex marriage ‘unconstitutional’, court rules Climate change could be slowed if oceans are protected, experts say Top Chinese official admits efficacy of China’s vaccines is low Universal sorry after dubbing trans actress with man’s voice Three bodies found and five more people feared dead as helicopter crashes into Russian lake ‘We have lost so many lives’: At least 60 dead after petrol tanker explodes in Haiti What weapons does Zelenskyy want from the west ahead of top US officials’ visit to Ukraine? Plane with 22 people on board goes missing in Nepal ‘Please please keep him safe’: Heartbreaking mother’s note in Ukrainian child refugee’s backpack French minister and UEFA to discuss ‘deeply concerning’ scenes at Champions League final as UK demands full inquiry Former Irish soldier convicted of being Islamic State member