A team from India's forest department rescued a drowning spotted deer recently from the bottom of a well in southern India.

Rescuers arrived at the village in the Gobichettipalayam area of Tamil Nadu on July 5 and found the stricken creature swimming around in deep water and growing tired.

They lowered a net down to the struggling deer and hauled it safely to the surface.

The animal was released successfully in a forest reserve shortly afterwards.

Forest officials said the deer was probably chased by village dogs and fell into the well while trying to escape them.

Lakshmi Rajan,  a farmer  in Perumugai Anna Nagar near Gobichettipalayam in the state of Tamil Nadu went to his field to draw water from his 100 feet well. He saw that a spotted deer had fallen into his well. Without any support the deer was swimming in deep water and growing tired by every minute. He immediately called the forest department who came with ropes and nets to save the deer. They lowered the net into water and one of the team members jumped into water and herded the deer towards the net. The deer was pulled up and taken to a reserve forest and released there as it was in good health. Forest officials said the deer was probably chased by village dogs and it fell into the well while trying to escape from them.