Tourist performs roadside C-section saves life of fawn after mother struck by vehicle

A tourist heading for a vacation in rural British Columbia carried out a roadside C-section on a dying deer miraculously saving her fawn.

Sean Steele, of Barrhead, Alberta, was driving with his wife, Michele, last Friday a outside of Prince Rupert when they saw a vehicle ahead of them on Highway 16 strike a deer. The couple got out to help – preparing mostly to put the deer out of her misery – when Steele noticed a hoof emerging from the doe.

He grabbed a knife and pulled out the fawn.

Michele Steele snapped this photo moments after the emergency delivery/Facebook
Michele Steele snapped this photo moments after the emergency delivery/Facebook

“I cleaned out its mouth, put some grass in its nose so it would sneeze and get all the crap out of it,” he told CBC. “It starting breathing.”

fawnSSteele
Michele Steele/Facebook
FawnSteele
Michele Steele/Facebook

Michele Steele posted this video of her husband and the orphaned deer, which they called Friday.

They put Friday in their vehicle and drove to the Northern Lights Wildlife Society in Smithers, B.C.

The deer was wrapped in Sean's sweatshirt, placed in a basket the back seat of the Steele's truck/Facebook
The deer was wrapped in Sean’s sweatshirt, placed in a basket for the 45-minute drive/Facebook

“Boy oh boy things can’t get much crazier here,” the animal rescue group posted on Facebook. “Got a call today from people on vacation that had a fatal vehicle accident with a deer. The female deer aborted a live female fawn. That of course made for some frantic action.”

Friday recovering at the Northern Lights Wildlife Society/Facebook
Friday recovering at the Northern Lights Wildlife Society/Facebook

 

Friday settling into her new digs at the Northern Lights Wildlife Society/Facebook
Friday settling into her new digs at the Northern Lights Wildlife Society/Facebook

“We are happy to report that the fawn seems to be unharmed and is drinking her bottle like a champion,” the wildlife society added. “Our little male fawn is not sure if he likes her yet. Especially when she is trying to nurse from him he looks a bit concerned.”

Northern Lights Wildlife Society/Facebook
Northern Lights Wildlife Society/Facebook

And soon, Friday was moved to an outdoor enclosure with her slightly older BFF.

Friday looking a little more like Bambi on ice. Northern Lights Wildlife Society/Facebook
Friday looking a little more like Bambi on ice. Northern Lights Wildlife Society/Facebook

Steele shrugged off the whole thing telling CTV it “was no big deal.”

Naturally, the survival story has gone viral. And, nobody is more proud than Steele’s family. His daughter, Stephanie, posting on Facebook.

Sean Steele with the newborn fawn he saved from certain death. Stephanie Steele/Facebook
Sean Steele with the newborn fawn he saved from certain death. Stephanie Steele/Facebook

“That’s Friday!” she wrote. “My dad saved this deer!”

Now a week old, Friday seems to be thriving. She even has her own Facebook page.

The grateful deer – and her caring humans – added one final note:

“My new home feeds and cares for a lot of animals that have been injured or orphaned. Please donate to the Northern Lights Wilderness Society to help feed me. It is really appreciated.”

Friday. Northern Lights Wildlife Society/Facebook
Friday. Northern Lights Wildlife Society/Facebook

About the author

Recovering newspaper reporter.

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