Stranded and alone for two long years at the base of the Scottish Highlands, a sheep—now affectionately known as Fiona—watched helplessly as kayakers paddled past her remote hiding spot, crying out in desperation for someone to notice her. Her lonely cries didn’t go unheard forever. After years of isolation, a courageous team of five determined men, armed with heavy machinery and a whole lot of heart, launched a daring rescue mission. They pulled off a risky operation to lift this shaggy, overgrown sheep up the steep 820-foot cliffs to safety.
Here’s the incredible story of Fiona’s rescue and the people who made it happen.
Back in 2021, Jillian Turner from Scotland was kayaking with friends when she first caught sight of the stranded sheep. They were making their way along the rugged coastline of the Highlands when Jillian noticed Fiona wandering along a small gravel beach at the base of towering cliffs. Turner vividly remembers that first encounter. She explained how the ewe noticed their group and began to call out, trailing after them along the length of the beach, keeping pace until the cliffs cut off her path. Turner said, “She followed us as far as she could, calling out the whole way, and when she couldn’t go any further, she just turned back, looking absolutely defeated.”
Turner didn’t immediately realize the gravity of Fiona’s situation. She knew that sheep are surprisingly good climbers and assumed the animal would eventually find her way back up the cliffs to safety. However, her assumption proved wrong. Two years later, in October 2023, Turner found herself kayaking the same route—and to her shock, Fiona was still there.
Turner described how the sheep once again called out and followed their group along the shore, leaping from rock to rock, her cries echoing across the water. But this time, Fiona’s fleece was massively overgrown, so long it dragged behind her, weighing her down. Turner realized the poor sheep had been stranded all this time, surviving completely alone. “For a flock animal, that has to be absolute torture,” Turner said. “She looked so desperate to make contact with us, it broke my heart.”
Determined to help, Turner contacted the Scottish SPCA. Unfortunately, the organization said there was plenty of grazing in the area and cited the extreme difficulty of such a rescue. They explained it would be an “incredibly complex” mission and they didn’t have the necessary equipment to get Fiona out of her isolated spot.
Then came the heroes of the story. On November 4th, a fearless group of five farmers, led by professional sheep shearer Cammy Wilson, decided to take matters into their own hands. They gathered their heavy-duty tools and took on the life-threatening challenge. Their mission was simple in goal but dangerous in execution—get Fiona to safety.
The rescue team devised a plan using a winch mounted on a truck positioned at the top of the 820-foot cliff. They attached a whopping 660 feet of rope to a makeshift sling fashioned from a livestock feed bag. Drone footage provided by one of the farmers gave them a clear view of the challenging cliff face, helping them map out the rescue route.
While two of the farmers stayed up top to operate the winch, the other three were lowered down the treacherous cliffside, making their way to the small cave where Fiona had been hiding. Wilson said he was astonished by Fiona’s calmness. “She was unbelievably relaxed,” he said. “There was no panting, no panic. It felt like she was thinking, ‘Finally, someone’s here to get me out of this mess.’ It’s really rare to see a sheep so cooperative.”
For a moment, there was a scare—the sling carrying Fiona seemed to be tearing. Luckily, it held strong, even with Fiona’s unexpected heft after two years of good grazing. The team slowly hoisted her up the steep cliff wall to the plateau above, bringing her ordeal to a triumphant end.
“It was an epic rescue,” Wilson said proudly. Fiona is now safe and sound at a local farm park, surrounded by other animals and finally part of a flock again. They named her Fiona, after the princess ogre from Shrek who, just like her, was rescued from isolation. Wilson laughed, “There was a sheep called Shrek in Australia that lived in caves for years. Fiona’s the Scottish version of that story.”
Fiona’s dramatic rescue captured hearts worldwide. People flocked to social media to celebrate her rescuers. On Facebook, people praised the farmers from The Sheep Game for their bravery. One person commented, “All these organizations couldn’t get it done, but five down-to-earth Scots, a big truck, and a long rope made it happen. Absolutely heroic!” Another fan said, “Omg, this makes me so happy. Fair play, lads! Can’t wait to see Fiona shorn and happy with her new family. Much love from Ireland!” Someone from Australia chimed in too, saying, “We’ve been following Fiona’s story from the other side of the world. Thank you so much! She’s finally safe and loved.”
It remains a mystery how Fiona ended up stranded on that remote, rocky beach. Wilson reflected on the experience, saying, “We got really lucky. Any mistake could’ve been fatal, and the stress could have killed Fiona. But she stayed calm, and everything went perfectly.”
The Scottish SPCA was present during the rescue but reiterated they couldn’t have done it themselves. They made sure Fiona was checked out right after her rescue, finding her in surprisingly excellent health aside from her overgrown fleece. After a good shearing, Fiona looked fresh, clean, and ready for her new life—maybe a little on the chunky side, but otherwise thriving.
Wilson summed it up with a smile, “Sometimes it just takes a few stubborn idiots to make something incredible happen. We pulled it off, but it could’ve gone very differently. Today was a win for the good guys.”
A huge thanks to these brave rescuers who risked it all to save Fiona. Thanks to them, Fiona is now safe, happy, and surrounded by friends. She’s finally getting the life she deserves. If this heartwarming story inspired you, make sure to share it with others. And don’t forget to check out the incredible rescue of the donkey from floodwaters—it’s another example of kindness changing the world.
