Off-duty RSPCA officer pulls struggling seabird from water at Seaton Carew Beach

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Animal collection officer Shane Lynn was out with rescue dogs Bella and Belle on Monday, April 20 when he spotted the guillemot floating on water at Seaton Carew Beach.

The birds usually spend most of their life at sea, only coming to land to nest on cliff faces.

Shane said: “It was pretty clear he wasn’t alright, he was struggling to keep his head up.

The guillemot was rescued from the water at Seaton Carew Beach but later died.

“I waded in up to my knees and scooped him out and carried him home wrapped in my jacket then took him to the vets.

“Sadly, he was so poorly he didn’t make it.

“There were no visible injuries but he had very tatty feathers which were waterlogged which I assume lead to him becoming completely exhausted and his death.”

The RSPCA is continuing an emergency-only service through the lockdown period.

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