A cold and distressed swan trapped under a collapsed jetty by the River Medina during Storm Ciaran has been rescued. Friends of the Animals received a phone call just before 11.30 on Thursday from a lady who had arrived at Newport Rowing Club earlier that morning to find a swan in serious distress. The bird had been trapped under a jetty that had collapsed in the storm and was extremely waterlogged, covered in mud and dangerously cold. Sam – the lady who had found the distressed bird – phoned the RSPCA but did not receive any assistance. She then attempted to contact numerous other organisations. After 2 hours had elapsed, and no one had arrived to help, Sam phoned Friends of the Animals. Within 10 minutes, 2 members of staff from the charity had arrived with a carrying container. Chris Mirehouse from Friends of the Animals continues the story:
“We made our way down to the water’s edge. The swan was very flat and didn’t put up any struggle as we wrapped him/her in towels and placed him/her into the container for the short journey to the vet. “When we arrived at The Peoples Vet, the staff, as always, were amazing and got to work drying the swan and providing warmth via a heater. As soon as the vet was free, he did a thorough examination before administering a steroid injection for shock and also an antibiotic.”
The swan – who was named Sam after the woman who found him/her – recovered overnight in the care of Friends of the Animals. The bird will be released when dry and back to full strength.
