An Alberta horse rescued after six days in a sewage pit has died. The 17-year-old Morgan stallion named Digger, owned by Lynn Danyluk of Waskatenau, north of Edmonton, Alberta, died early Sunday morning, October 8, 2017, after being hoisted from the pit by firefighters the previous Friday. 

Digger, a former therapy horse, and another horse had been loaned by Danyluk to a family with an overgrown farmyard to tame the grass. Digger had been missing for six days when found in a septic tank overflow pit, with sewage up to his back and so exhausted he could barely keep his mouth and nose out of the liquid. The attending veterinarian administered an IV and penicillin, and when able to stand Digger was taken back to the Danyluk home.

After rescue Digger ate and drank, but when he lay down to sleep his feet would start paddling and he would crane his neck says Danyluk. He died with his owner petting his neck, less than two days after being rescued.

With files from CTVnews.ca, Globalnews.ca.