EVENING HERALD (Plymouth) 01 December 05 Escapee Eric Brought Back To Earth
When Eric the iguana went exploring his new home little did he know the trouble he would cause. Six firefighters from two different fire stations spent nearly two hours coaxing the 3ft long green and orange lizard from the chimney of his St Judes house.
Nadine McCairns - who took on Eric three weeks ago when her friend gave him up - said she knew the six-year-old creature was curious, but never imagined he would go to such lengths.
Eric - allowed to walk around the two-storey house by Nadine - climbed more than 15ft up the chimney on Tuesday evening.
"I didn't know what to do," the 27-year-old said. "Who do you call to say that your lizard has climbed up the chimney?"
Firefighters from Greenbank fire station and Camels Head fire station visited the South View Terrace house on Tuesday night, but because an RSPCA officer was not available they were forced to put the rescue off until yesterday morning.
Using a hydraulic platform they rose to above the chimney and used five connected chimney rods - usually used to clear blocked chimneys - with a firefighter's glove attached, to scare Eric back down the flue.
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BBC (London, UK) 30 November 05 Stuck reptile saved from chimney
Ms McCairns says despite his ordeal, Eric is absolutely fine
A crew of firefighters were called in after a pet reptile got stuck up a chimney at a family home in Plymouth.
Crews from Devon Fire and Rescue may be quite used to rescuing cats from trees, but the job on Wednesday involved a pet iguana named Eric.
The six-year-old green iguana had become trapped after going into the bedroom fireplace and scattering soot as he climbed the chimney.
Eric was eventually rescued with chimney rods and a fireman's glove.
Nadine McCairns, who has only had the pet for six weeks, praised the work of the rescue team.
She told BBC News: "I went into my daughter's bedroom about half past eight last night to put her to bed to find the whole room covered in soot.
"Lacking an iguana, I suddenly realised what had happened and called the fire service who told me to leave it until the morning."
The brigade came out with the RSPCA, two fire engines and an hydraulic platform, which they used to locate the missing iguana.
"They pulled him from the other side and I managed to pull him out by his tail", said Ms McCairns.
"He's had quite an ordeal today but he's absolutely fine."
Eric's owner said he is a lovely pet who doesn't bite and is better than a cat because he does not leave fur lying about the house.
Ms McCairns said the rescue appeared to be stimulating for the rescue crew.
"They were laughing, although they were quite scared at first. But they got him out and they were brilliant, they really were."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/devon/4487050.stm
