Overview
- The animal escaped from Santa's Enchanted Forest on Saturday and was filmed trotting near Woodlands Primary School earlier in the day.
- Merseyside Police tracked it into the evening before losing sight, then requested help from Southport Offshore Rescue Trust and HM Coastguard teams from Southport and Crosby.
- Rescuers used thermal binoculars and quad bikes to locate the reindeer on Formby Beach and guide it into the Altcar Rifle Range dunes as a police drone monitored overhead.
- A vet travelled from Salisbury and, with support from Royal Marines training nearby, sedated the animal at about 1.20am on Sunday without reported injuries.
- The reindeer, identified as Buddy, was returned to its owners in Wales as all participating agencies stood down.