VIDEO: Injured swan returns home after treatment

On January 9, rescuers from East Sussex Wildlife Rescue & Ambulance Service (WRAS) rushed to the aid of a swan covered in blood in a field.

A dramatic rescue unfolded involving rescuers having to swim across freezing water.

The swan, which was thought to have hit its over head cables or crash landed, had a severe bleed from its lower beak.

As the swan preened it became more and more red covering itself in blood.

Rescuers Trevor Weeks MBE, Chris Riddington and Tony Neads rescued the swan and were able to provide emergency first aid to save its life.

Yesterday (January 19) the swan was returned from specialists at the Swan Sanctuary in Shepperton.

Trevor and Chris returned the swan back to Wartling to release it back into the wild, to be reunited with its partner.

“This is one of the main reasons why we undertake this work, as it is such a buzz being able to return such magnificent creatures back to the wild,” said rescuer Chris.

“The swan was clearly excited when we got out the ambulance and was looking round and you could just tell she knew where she was and was home again.”

Trevor said, “The swan was released into a small channel of water where originally rescued. We watched the swan from a distance for a while. We were delighted to see the swan take off, fly round the field gaining height and then fly off in a westerly direction.

“I suspect these fields were not the swans home but the pair landed there as she was injured. They probably have a location nearby, which they were returning to, for breeding this spring and she will head there to hopefully find her mate.

“This is a great outcome for us, thanks to the hard work of the staff at the Swan Sanctuary at Shepperton and our volunteers at East Sussex WRAS.”

Video and photographs provided by East Sussex WRAS.