A FARMER who was left fighting for his life after being trampled by cows has been hit by another calamity as dozens of his sheep fell 50ft into a cave.

Joe Garbutt, 68, who runs a farm on the North York Moors, near Rievaulx, and his son, Peter, pulled several sheep from a hole near the surface, but appealed for help from cavers after realising numerous sheep had followed each other into the chasm.

About 30 sheep dropped up to 20ft at a time from a series of ledges inside the cave, which has been named Mr Sparkle’s Grotty Hole since its discovery this summer.

After a tractor broke the limestone cave’s roof in May, the hole had been fenced off. It is not known whether a walker moving the sheep hurdles, or high winds had enabled the animals to reach the hole.

The Northern Echo: Map showing location farmer's sheep were rescued from a cave

Richard Edwards, of North York Moors Caving Club, said the ten-hour operation to rescue the sheep had been a distressing experience as a number of the animals had been killed or had severe injuries.

He said: “It was just a case of having to do it – no one wants an animal to suffer.

“Somehow, some of the sheep had survived the fall. I have no idea how they managed to do so given the drops.”

After Mr Edwards and two other cavers rescued five sheep using ropes and pulleys, they realised there was a large number of animals trapped at the bottom of the cave and alerted Cleveland Search and Rescue Team (CSRT).

Peter Mounsey, of CSRT, said they used wire ladders to reach the animals, which had been in the cave for a day without food or water.

He said he was amazed to discover that most of the sheep had survived.

The cave opening has since been closed with a metal plate.

Mr Garbutt, who is thought to have run the farm for more than 30 years, said the incident had been upsetting, but did not wish to comment.

He suffered head, chest and back injuries when he was trampled by one of the farm’s 200-strong herd of Limousin cows in June last year and was airlifted in a critical condition to the intensive care unit at The James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough.