A TECHNICIAN from Widnes saved the day at Blackpool Zoo when a machine broke down in an elephant enclosure.

Kieran Crowder, a mobile hose technician, came to the rescue at 4pm when the branch received a call from a customer to attend a job at Blackpool Zoo.

A machine, the bobcat T950, was stuck in the middle of the elephant enclosure.

Hydroscand UK’s mobile technicians are available to attend jobs 24/7, so this job was no different.

When Kieran arrived, he was told by the staff the elephants were outside the enclosure, and could not come back inside until the machine had been removed.

He said: ‘‘When I got to the site, I was quickly escorted by the friendly staff to where the bobcat had broken down.

''I commented that it was like something from Jurassic Park because it was behind a huge, thick steel fence.’’

Kieran assessed where the leak was coming from and got to work.

He added: ‘‘The leak was a failed main feed hose under the cab.

‘‘I removed the hose and made a new bespoke hose to suit the machine in the back of my van, and then I fitted it.

“I topped up the hydraulic oil and tested the machine.

‘‘Once I was sure it was running without any further leaks, the operator removed the bobcat out of the enclosure and closed the gate ready for the elephants to come in for the night.

“The staff at Blackpool Zoo were made up.

“As I headed home, I thought that was definitely not an ordinary day on the road!”