it crashed through a fence into Pembroke Canal.

And crane driver Craig Curtis came to the rescue when he sprinted for his Island Construction crane to help lift Benny the horse from the thick canal mud.

Mr. Curtis said: "I just drove into the accident -- and I said you're going to have to get a crane to lift the horse out.'' But Mr. Curtis dismissed his role in the marathon bid to rescue Benny from drowning.

He said: "I've lifted horses before. I wasn't nervous or anything -- it was just another job.'' A small crowd gathered to watch the drama -- and burst into a round of applause when Benny, limping due to an injured front leg, was led away from the scene.

Hero firefighter Raynei Boyles -- who was brought up with horses -- spent more than two hours in the stinking mud and water of the canal trying to help Benny find the bank and clamber out.

And -- after the horse exhausted itself in a bid to free its hind legs from the ooze -- Mr. Boyles helped keep its head above water until the crane arrived.

But Mr. Boyles said: "It's not a one-man show -- it's a team effort and everybody worked hard.'' He added: "I used to own a horse -- I've had them all my life, so I wasn't scared at all.'' But Mr. Boyles admitted: "It looked pretty bad for the horse for a while -- but he was just exhausted.

"He was fighting really hard to get out and just got tired.'' The horse and carriage, which was not carrying passengers, crashed through the fence along the canal at the junction of Woodlands Road and Laffan Street just after 8 p.m. last night.

And a massive rescue operation involving firefighters, Police, a vet and members of the public ended in success when Benny was pulled free more than two hours later.

The horse took out around 15 feet of the stout wooden fencing and left driver Troy Williams and the carriage hanging over the edge -- with Benny trapped by the wooden traces of the carriage.

Mr. Williams -- still suffering from shock -- said afterwards: "It was a dog barking that did it -- I thought the horse was gone and I thought I was gone too.'' An eyewitness said the horse and carriage were at the stop sign at Laffan Street going on to Woodlands Road when Benny reared and headed straight for the canal.

The man -- who asked not to be named -- said: "The guy came through the stop sign and the horse just kicked up.

"There wasn't any traffic -- something must have frightened it.

"It just crashed right through the barrier and ended up in the canal. It looked like it was pinned there on its side.'' One Police officer who helped divert traffic from the scene said: "The guys did an excellent job getting it out of there.'' Fire Sgt. Roger Dill said: "Over the years, we've had one or two similar types of incidents -- but nothing quite like this.

"But everybody did well and we're very glad we got it out -- we were worried for a while it would lose its head and drown.''