A woman has been praised as a hero after braving icy water to save an injured seagull that had been trapped in fishing line for more than five hours near the Irish Sea.
Striking photos captured Lorraine Bullar swimming about 50 feet through the cold waters of Stanley Park Lake in Blackpool, Lancashire, to reach the struggling bird. The seagull had become tangled in fishing gear, leaving one of its legs trapped and preventing it from escaping.
The bird was first noticed by wildlife rescue volunteer Stuart Beaton, who realized it had remained stuck in the same spot for hours. After seeing that it had not moved for roughly five hours, he contacted the team at Brambles Wildlife Rescue, who then reached out to Bullar for help.
Bullar was well prepared for the challenge. She has significant rescue experience through her work with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, the organization known for its round-the-clock rescue missions and lifeguard training around England.
According to Mel Greenhalgh from Brambles Wildlife Rescue, Bullar immediately stepped in to assist.
After putting on her wetsuit, Bullar swam out to reach the exhausted gull and bring it safely back toward shore. Waiting there, Beaton photographed the rescue, then carefully removed the hook and helped get the bird transported for treatment.
Now under the care of Brambles staff, the gull is being treated with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication. The team has also given her a new name: Patience.
Although the distance Bullar swam was relatively short, Greenhalgh said the rescue was still no small achievement, especially considering she had to swim back while carrying a seagull.
Fortunately, the bird limited her protest to chewing on Bullar’s wetsuit.
In the end, rescuers described the effort as a brilliant example of teamwork, with everyone playing a part in giving Patience a second chance.