A confused cow on the run in Western Sydney has sparked two emergencies in less than 24 hours.
The cow was first spotted on the loose in a shopping centre at Caddens, near Penrith, on Tuesday night.
Fire crews said they hatched a plan to wrangle the wayward bovine.
"At that time of night, it's very difficult to relocate a cow," Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Adam Dewberry said.
Unable to find her owner, crews left the cow for safekeeping overnight on the grounds of Western Sydney University at Werrington.
"They escorted the cow in there hoping it would be safe and sound … thinking the job was done," Superintendent Dewberry said.
But around 10:30am on Wednesday, crews received another emergency call as the cow had become stuck up to her stomach in mud inside a dam on campus.
"This same cow found itself in more misadventure and it got itself bogged in a dam," he said.
Firefighters used a 38 millimetre fire hose to create a makeshift lasso.
"Using the canvas hose we carry on the fire truck, firefighters put it around its body to escort it out of the dam," Superintendent Dewberry said.
"Firefighters and police soothed it and then also got it confidence so it could get itself out with some comfort and a little bit of encouragement."
The cow was reportedly so exhausted from the ordeal that she was unable to stand.
Crews remained with her until she recovered from the ordeal.
"It's still in good spirits," Superintendent Dewberry said.
Fire and Rescue NSW say the identity of the cow and her owner remains a mystery.
