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Heroic woman braves freezing water to rescue drowning seagull

Lorraine Bullar rescuing the seagull caught in fishing tackle. (Stuart Beaton via SWNS).
Lorraine Bullar rescuing the seagull caught in fishing tackle. (Stuart Beaton via SWNS). Stuart Beaton / SWNS

A brave woman has been hailed a hero after she rescued an injured seagull from drowning after it became stuck in a fishing line.

Dramatic images show Lorraine Bullar swimming out 15 meters into freezing Stanley Park Lake in Blackpool, Lancashire, to save the hurt gull after its leg was trapped in fishing tackle.

 The gull was drowning until Bullar jumped into action. (Stuart Beaton via SWNS)
The gull was drowning until Bullar jumped into action. (Stuart Beaton via SWNS) SWNS Stuart Beaton / SWNS

The poor animal - who has since been named Patience - was spotted by wildlife helper Stuart Beaton, who had noticed the gull hadn't moved for five hours.

Bullar - who has extensive experience saving lives with the RNLI - was contacted by Wildlife Rescue team Brambles and slipped into her wetsuit to help the gull.

After Patience was rescued, Beaton then carefully removed the hook and is now being looked after by Brambles, who have treated her with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication.

 The seagull, now nicknamed Patience, is on the mend after being rescued. (Stuart Beaton via SWNS)
The seagull, now nicknamed Patience, is on the mend after being rescued. (Stuart Beaton via SWNS)

Mel Greenhalgh, of Brambles Wildlife Rescue, said: "Thankfully heroine Lorraine, who has extensive experience saving lives with the RNLI and is a friend of the rescue, offered her help and donned her wetsuit to swim out to her.

"That's no mean feat swimming with a gull under your arm! Luckily she just chewed on her wetsuit.

"Smashing piece of teamwork yet again by all involved."

The post Heroic woman braves freezing water to rescue drowning seagull appeared first on Talker.

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