Published: January 12, 2011
RSPCA calls on BARB rescue boat to retrieve injured swan

Burnham-On-Sea's BARB inshore rescue boat was in action on Tuesday morning (January 11th), helping the RSPCA.

The boat and its crew were called to Combwich to help animal carers reach an injured swan on the River Parrett.

A net was used to successfully capture the bird but, sadly, its condition was so poor that it was later put down at RSPCA's West Hatch Wildlife Hospital.

The RSPCA's Ellie West told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "The swan was originally reported to be tangled up in fishing line, but once we brought the bird to our hospital, we found she'd been caught by a dog a while ago and had several puncture wounds to her rump."

"It seemed like the bottom of her back was fractured too and she was also emaciated. Sadly, we decided to put her to sleep to end her suffering."

"On behalf of the RSPCA and West Hatch Wildlife Hospital, we would like to thank the BARB crew and Burnham Coastguards' Dave Ilsley for their assistance with this rescue."

Pictured are BARB crewmembers Dave Bailey and Angela Fey with the RSPCA's Ellie West and the retrieved swan