Five fire crews and a boat were called to rescue a deer stuck in the water at Stoke Quay.
Four crews from Ipswich Princes Street and a crew from Ipswich East were called to the incident – close to the Steamboat Tavern – just after 12.45pm.
The deer is understood to have swum from the direction of Stoke Bridge towards the tidal barrier.
Fire officers worked their way along the banks using a thermal imaging camera to search for animal's heat signature in the cold water of the river.
A spokesman for Suffolk Fire and Rescue said a boat was also prepared to help with the operation.
With help from the harbour master, crews spotted the animal in the water close to the lock gates near Ship Launch Road.
Just over an after crews were first called, a spokesman for the fire service confirmed the animal had climbed out of the water without any help from the fire service.
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