A heroic effort saved the life of a water buffalo that fell into an extremely narrow well in southern India.

The buffalo, which belonged to local farmer Gagan Gowda, had miraculously survived the roughly 40-foot (12m) fall into the well, which was less than 5 feet (1.5m) wide.

Fire brigade personnel and local villagers worked hard to pull the buffalo out, using straps attached to its body and a lot of effort.

Remarkably, the animal had survived the fall without breaking a limb, though it did lose a horn.

It was able to get up and walk on its own a few minutes after the incident, which took place on July 3 at Kerehalli in Soraba Taluk, Shivamogga district of Karnataka state.

A water buffalo of a local farmer Gagan Gowda fell into his well which was less than 5 feet wide. Fire brigade personnel and local villagers worked hard to pull out the buffalo, which survived the 40-feet deep fall without any major injuries. As the well was very narrow, villagers expected the buffalo to break a limb. Though it lost a horn, the buffalo was lucky not to suffer any fracture. It could get up and walk on its own a few minutes after the incident. Incident took place on July 3 at Kerehalli in Soraba Taluk, Shivamogga district of Karnataka state.