Bird with a broken wing is rescued by Wigan firefighters and RSPCA

Firefighters came to the rescue of a bird with a broken wing which was trapped in an inaccessible part of the canal.
Specialist water rescue teams helped to get to the bird. Pic: GMFRSSpecialist water rescue teams helped to get to the bird. Pic: GMFRS
Specialist water rescue teams helped to get to the bird. Pic: GMFRS

Crews from Wigan fire station went to the Leeds-Liverpool Canal, near Seven Stars Road, to help the egret it was spotted by a member of the public just before 9am on Monday.

They were joined by specialist boat crews, RSPCA officers and staff from a local timber yard, who all helped to get to a part of the canal bank which was difficult to access.

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Station manager Chris Evans, from Wigan fire station, said: “Crews from Wigan and specialist water rescue teams from Eccles and Heywood were called to assist with recovering an injured bird. A member of the public had contacted the RSPCA after spotting the bird and there were concerns they would put themselves in danger by entering the canal to rescue it.

The rescued bird. Pic: GMFRSThe rescued bird. Pic: GMFRS
The rescued bird. Pic: GMFRS

“Despite being injured, and being for its own benefit, the bird did its best to evade being rescued, so crews quickly committed to the water to help it get to safety and into the care of the RSPCA inspector.”

They managed to rescue the egret, which had been there for at least 24 hours, and it was taken to a vet.

It will be cared for at a specialist sanctuary and released back into the wild once its wing has healed.

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