Man Stops For Deer On Road And Performs C-Section To Save Her Baby

Last Friday, a pregnant deer was fatally struck by a car along a coastal highway in British Columbia, Canada. Sean Steele and his wife were passing by and happened to notice that the mother deer was still alive - but just barely.

The couple stopped to see what could be done for the deer. Her body was mangled, but then Steele spotted the leg of her baby, protruding from her open belly.

Steele told the National Post that he acted "on instinct," using a knife he had on him to cut the fawn out in an impromptu C-section. Despite the mother deer being far too gone to save - and ultimately dying - Steele realized that her child still had a chance.

Steele, who has experience delivering calves, quickly expelled the mucus from the fawn's airway, allowing her to take her first few breaths of life.

She was then dried off, and wrapped up in Steele's sweatshirt before being placed in the backseat of his truck.

Then, Steele and his wife were off to find colostrum, a special milk newborns need from their mothers within the first 24 hours of their lives that contains essential proteins and vitamins.

Fortunately, the couple was able to get the fawn to Northern Lights Animal Wildlife Society.

"We are happy to report that the fawn seems to be unharmed and is drinking her bottle like a champion," Northern Lights wrote on Facebook on Saturday. "Our little male fawn is not sure if he likes her yet. Especially when she is trying to nurse from him, he looks a bit concerned."

Since her rescue, the fawn, named Friday Steele, has moved to an outdoor enclosure at Northern Lights with her newfound male companion.

Friday is expected to stay at Northern Lights until the fall, when she will be released back into the wild.

While it's sad Friday's mother could not be saved, Friday herself was given this incredible opportunity to carry on thanks to the quick thinking and kindness of one couple who took the time to simply stop and check.

Want to help the Northern Lights Wildlife Society continue doing good work for animals? Consider making a donation here.

Here's what you should do if you see a deer who was hit by a car.

Watch this video to see how a young deer was rescued from a deep mud pit: