A DRAMATIC rescue attempt involving firefighters and members of the public took place after a swan became entangled in wire in Grimsby's Riverhead.
The cygnet was spotted in the water near to The Barge pub by four local boys yesterday evening. They attempted to rescue it before being alerted to the danger they were putting themselves in.
Police Community Support Officers (PSCOs) arrived at the scene and called for the RSPCA, however officers from the charity were unable to attend.
The PCSOs then left, leaving Grimsby resident and freelance Grimsby Telegraph photographer, Duncan Young, to call the fire service himself.
Duncan said: "I saw the lads trying to reach over to help the bird so I called out to them and told them how dangerous it was.
"I told them that people have died in that water.
"After the PCSOs told us that the RSPCA were not coming because they were busy elsewhere, I decided to call the fire service.
"Swans are protected animals and I didn't want to see it come to any harm."
Brandon Thompson, 9, who spotted the swan while out with his three friends, added: "We saw it in the water and tried to climb over to help.
"We did pick it up slightly but then a guy told us it was dangerous. We just wanted to help, we didn't want to see the swan get hurt.."
Humberside Fire and Rescue Service arrived at the scene and used a ladder to rescue the swan before placing it into Alexandra Dock.
Neil Knight, crew manager at Peaks Lane Fire Station, said: "We got a call at 5.40pm. Upon arrival, it appeared that the swan had worked itself free, however it was stuck behind a concrete pillar.
"It appears that the other swans in the area at the time were trying to attack the trapped swan.
"We used a ladder to reach down into the dock and a chimney sheet to lift the swan out of the water.
"We carried it away and it soon made a quick recovery."
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