A yarn about a goat on a boat

The kid is a hit with customers at Cathedral Cove kayaks. Photo / Supplied

A young goat rescued from his muddy grave by a kind-hearted kayak guide is almost ready to join his rescuer on the water.

The now 10-day-old goat, named Billy the Kid, is set to become the mascot of Cathedral Cove Kayaks on the Coromandel Peninsula, and is quickly making himself at home among the customers.

Tyrell Browne found Billy lying in the rain last Tuesday on the Hahei farm where he works part time.

"His [sibling] had passed away ... I could see them both lying in the paddock, one of them was dead and one I sort of tapped with my boot and he let out a little 'baah'."

Billy is good friends with rescuer Tyrell Browne's puppy. Photo / Supplied

Mr Browne picked up Billy and started to nurse him back to health with milk and a hot water bottle, but not without a few close calls.

"I was holding him and I thought he just died in my arms, he went all stiff."

After about eight hours Billy eventually started to warm up.

"He was probably only an hour old and would have got rained on straight away and couldn't stand up so couldn't feed."

Mr Browne said Billy would be joining him on kayak trips around the Coromandel soon. He's even made a new friend with Mr Browne's 3-month-old puppy, Duke.