Firefighters to the rescue after swan crash lands in heavy traffic

Firefighters stepped in to rescue a stricken swan when it crash-landed in front of their fire engine.

The crew was returning to its base in Chelmsford, Essex, when the bird "belly flopped" on to the road bringing rush hour traffic to a stand still.

Going to the aid of the dazed animal, the firefighters wrapped it in a tunic, to prevent it from lashing out, and took it to the fire station. An RSPCA officer later took the animal to a swan sanctuary in Maldon.



Sub officer Rob Sherwin said the crew were in Rainsford Lane, on routine duties, when they saw the swan flying very low towards the road.

"The bedraggled-looking bird just belly flopped on to the road right in front of us. The crew stopped the traffic and went out to help the bird," he said. "They used one of their fire tunics to wrap around the swan so it couldn't lash out."

Once back at base the firefighters looked after the stricken bird for about an hour before an RSPCA officer arrived to take it to the swan sanctuary.