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Burnham
Hovercraft Home Page > Burnham Hovercraft
News Archive
July
22, 2006
Injured
swan rescued at Combwich using Burnham inshore lifeboat
Burnham-On-Sea's
hovercraft crew helped animal experts to capture an injured swan
at Combwich, near Bridgwater, on Saturday morning (July 22nd)
after the bird partially swallowed a fishing hook and line.
 A
walker spotted the animal in distress and contacted Highbridge-based
Secret World Wildlife Rescue Centre, who asked BARB, the charity
that runs Burnham's hovercraft, for help.
The
group's inshore lifeboat - which has been used to conduct several
animal rescues in recent years - was driven by road to Combwich
Pool where it was launched with crew members Alan Miller and Andy
Croker, plus Secret World's Graeme Thompson.
 Using
a large net, the rescuers quickly captured the swan, which was
rushed to a local vet for emergency treatment.
The
hook and line were successfully removed during the afternoon and
the bird was successfully released back to its family on the lake
on Saturday evening.
BARB
has been involved in several animal rescues in recent years; helping
swans at Apex Lesiure Park in Highbridge at the start of July
and in June 2005, and rescuing two dogs trapped in mud at Brean
in July 2004.
Alan
Miller, Chairman of BARB, said: "If we don't go to the aid
of animals, there's a risk that people may enter the water to
try and carry out the rescue themselves, therefore getting into
difficulty. Providing that we're not jeopardising the rescue of
a person elsewhere, we'll always help."
These
photos show the rescue of the injured swan underway at Combwich
Pool on Saturday July 22nd.
The
photos below show the swan being released back into the lake later
on Saturday evening, having had the fishing line removed...
RELATED
LINKS:
Official
BARB Web site home page
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