Earl the mule rescued from frozen river!

****HERE ARE MORE PHOTOS OF THE RESCUE OF EARL THE MISSING MULE.

He is now safe and back with his very relieved owner Chad Patton.

HERE’S HOW THE DRAMATIC RESCUE WENT DOWN:

Earl — who had been missing for several days — was spotted by Chris Parks who was hiking along Bledsoe Creek State Park.

Earl was stuck in the frozen water.

Chris took photos and sent them to his wife who sent them to me and I posted.

Immediately, all of you recognized Earl from social media posts and contacted Chad.

Sumner County, TN EMA, sheriff’s deputies and EMS responded to the scene.

First responders in dry suits and chainsaws were able to free Earl from the ice and cut a path through brush up an eight foot embankment to safety.

They think he actually swam all the way across the lake in the cold water and then could not get out on the bank.

It is just very lucky the hiker spotted Earl or he might have froze to death.

I LOVE A HAPPY ENDING.