In the United Kingdom, a rescuer was able to successfully free a swan that had become trapped in coastal rocks following a large storm. After being treated at a local facility, the swan was released back into the wild.
Here's what to know
The situation arose at Barton on Sea, in Southern England, following Storm Austen. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals learned of the stranded male swan on the beach through an alert from passers-by, according to the BBC.
Jo Story, an RSPCA inspector, climbed among large rocks on a British beach to reach the trapped swan and bring him to safety. Reaching the bird took Story between boulders near the sea's edge, where the swan was wedged among the rocks.
"He'd somehow got trapped in a small gap in a cluster of large rocks and couldn't get himself out," Story said, per the BBC.
By placing the bird's wing snugly against his chest, Story was able to pull the swan from the narrow gap in which he had been trapped following the storm.
How it happened
Story attributed the bird's predicament to the severe weather that had recently battered the area, explaining, "The poor swan had been blown into the rocks by the high winds that battered the south coast during Storm Austen."
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Storm Austen, the first named storm of the 2026-2027 season, hit Southern England and Wales in late October, with wind gusts measured as high as 84 mph, the BBC reported. The storm forced school closures and left roughly 10,000 residents without power.
A happy ending
After being freed from the rocks, the swan was taken to Wildlife in Need, a Bournemouth-based charity, where he underwent observation and was deemed healthy enough to return to the wild. The swan was successfully released at Christchurch Town Quay.
The effort offered an example of residents taking local action: spotting an animal in trouble, contacting the RSPCA, and helping the responding inspector.
"It's wonderful to see them healthy and back in the wild where they belong," Story said.
Where can I learn more?
Rescuers have come to the aid of swans caught in a variety of tricky situations. These stories cover some of those efforts.
• In England, staff freed a stranded swan after feeding it in a storm lagoon.
• A crash-landed swan trapped in thorny brambles bolted as a rescuer grabbed it.
• Three women chased an injured swan for hours before a well-timed tackle secured help.
• A cygnet with a hook in its bill was freed after a rubber boat rescue.
• In Lakeland, Florida, 59 swans were rounded up for health checks on Lake Morton.
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