Eagle-eyed North-east lifeboat crew swoops in to save bird found flapping around

A lifeboat crew has made one its most unusual rescues – plucking a struggling bird from the North Sea.

Members of Fraserburgh RNLI had been training off the coast of the North-east town on Thursday night

During a man overboard training exercise crew members spotted the struggling creature and pulled it to safety in a bucket.

Crewman Jason Flett said: “We were out training and we noticed there was a small bird trying to make for the boat all the time.

“We noticed it kept coming, and any time the boat shifted the bird kept coming, so we realised it was looking for attention or wanting help.

“I grabbed a bucket and scooped it out of the water and put it on the deck and when we came back ashore a member of the crew organised for the RSPB to come and pick the bird up.”

Coxwain Victor Sutherland – who has been with the RNLI 22 years – was in the water when the bird made for the boat.

He said: “It’s one of our stranger rescues.

“I was in the water and I could see the bird flapping about. I’ve never ever seen that with birds before.



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