Seagull saved in dinghy rescue (From Bridgwater Mercury)

Seagull saved in dinghy rescue

7:00am Tuesday 22nd January 2013 in News By Kirsty James

A SEAGULL which braved a night stuck in a freezing Bridgwater pond after swallowing a fishing hook has been rescued.

Concerned animal-lover Kevin Elsmore, from Spoonbill Road, alerted Secret World Animal Rescue after noticing the bird on Saturday evening (January 19).

Kelvin Millis, a response driver for Secret World, was called to the pond near Eastover Park on Sunday and balanced atop an inflatable dinghy to rescue the bird.

Kevin told the Mercury: “The fishing hook was attached to some branches overhanging the pond. The bird must have tried to eat the bait and became stuck.

“I had tried to wade out to free it using my chest waders and got rather wet and cold. The water was too deep so I called Secret World on Sunday – they came within 30 minutes.

“A kind neighbour, who had an inflatable dinghy at the ready, made the rescue possible.

“Well done to Kelvin. He made my weekend.”

The seagull was taken to Secret World and received treatment for a small injury on its shoulder before being released back into the wild today (January 21).