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"The only access to the sheep was via the motorway hard shoulder so we called in officers from Highways England to help. We also requested assistance from Hertfordshire Fire & rescue Service and a crew from Garston Blue Watch and the Hatfield Water Rescue Team came to help," animal collection officer Kate Wright said.
The rescuers said nine sheep were successfully rescued from the water, while seven died in the freezing water.
"Some of the sheep made fairly quick recoveries and soon returned to grazing in the field but some were very weak and completely exhausted so we kept them wrapped in blankets for longer and did our best to rub them dry," Wright said.