Horse rescued from quicksand

Stuck and scared, this horse in Geelong, Australia is waiting for help.

Eighteen-year-old Astro is stuck in quicksand and his owner, Nicole Graham, sits by his side, calmly waiting for rescuers to pull him to safety.

(SOUNDBITE)(English) NICOLE GRAHAM, ASTRO'S OWNER SAYING:

"As we sank deeper and deeper into the mud and time went on I was really starting to get scared. I knew if I stayed with him he wouldn't panic either and him not panicking meant that we would both get out OK."

With the tide rising, Nicole stayed with her horse until rescuers pulled it to safety three hours later.

One day on, Astro is doing just fine.

(SOUNDBITE)(English) NICOLE GRAHAM, ASTRO'S OWNER SAYING:

"He's only got some superficial bruising and just a bit of muscle soreness."

(SOUNDBITE)(English) STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE FIRE LIEUTENANT ROGER BUCKLE, SAYING:

"We were expecting the horse would maybe have a broken leg or Nicole would be injured in some way but to be able to both walk out with a couple of scratches and bruises is just a fantastic result,"

Graham said she has been riding on the beach without a problem for 20 years.

Travis Brecher, Reuters