Cow airlifted to safety after canyon fall

The dramatic helicopter rescue of a cow stuck in a canyon has given new meaning to the term ‘cattle class’.

Italian firefighters called in an aircraft to winch the injured cow out of a ravine in a mountainous area near Verona on Friday.

The cow was lifted metres into the air in a harness and then gently placed back on to safe ground.

Firefighters also tended to the animal's injuries.

It's not the first time emergency crews have gone above and beyond for an animal, with firefighters in Victoria using a crane to lift a horse out of a drain last month.