The lack of a crane left the firefighters with one choice: manual labor. The six-man team had to use all their strength to try and lift Stormy from the pool. The pool was surrounded by a concrete patio, and the firefighters used ropes and blankets to slide Stormy out of the water and onto the patio.
It was a difficult and dangerous operation, as Stormy weighed over 1,000 pounds and was unconscious. The firefighters worked carefully and methodically, making sure not to cause any harm to the horse. After about 20 minutes of effort, the rescue team successfully lifted Stormy out of the water and placed him on the pool patio. To protect the fatigued horse, additional rescuers joined in to line the edge of the pool with a tarp.