Kayaker Rushes To Save An Injured Baby, Then Hears A Sudden Growl Behind Him

Every evening, Gill Start likes to take a walk down to the river with a little treat for her favorite feathered family, a group of elegant swans. It has become part of her daily routine.

But on this particular day, something unusual happened. As she approached the water’s edge, her heart suddenly dropped.

One of the baby swans was in trouble. He wasn’t swimming with his usual energy.

Instead, he was tangled up in a mess of fishing line, struggling to move, twisting and tugging, but getting nowhere. It was heartbreaking to watch.

His tiny wings fluttered helplessly, and the more he tried to break free, the tighter the line seemed to hold.

Gill knew she couldn’t help him on her own, so she reached out to The Waterfowl Sanctuary (TWS), hoping someone could step in fast.

They’d helped birds before, and if anyone could save this little one, it was them.

The next morning, a rescuer from TWS showed up with a kayak. The river was quiet and calm, but the rescue ahead wasn’t going to be easy.

The swans were far from the road, tucked behind locks and bends, and it took a long paddle just to get close.

Once he spotted the trapped baby swan, the rescuer carefully tried to approach. But the little one darted away again and again, clearly frightened and confused.

It turned into a short but tricky chase, with the rescuer guiding the kayak through the tall reeds until he was able to steer the swan into a patch of river grass.

With calm, steady hands, he reached out and pulled the young swan into the boat.

That’s when he saw just how bad the situation was. The fishing hook had pierced the corner of the baby’s mouth, and the line was wrapped tightly around his bill, not once, but twice.

It was a painful sight, but thankfully, the hook was barbless and could be removed without causing more harm. Still, the work had to be done carefully.

As the rescuer worked on freeing the baby, something suddenly growled in the grass behind him. The father swan had arrived.

He wasn’t about to let a stranger handle his baby without a fight. He hissed, flapped, and circled the kayak. It was clear he wouldn’t relax until his baby was safe again.

Despite the commotion, the rescuer stayed focused. He untangled the last of the fishing line and gave the baby swan a quick check to make sure he was okay.

Luckily, the little guy had no major injuries and was strong enough to swim again. That was all the rescuer needed to know.

With the kayak still bobbing on the water, he lowered the swan back into the river. The baby paddled off, and his dad was right behind him.

But even then, the father refused to take his eyes off the rescuer until he was sure the danger had passed.

This wasn’t the first time TWS had to deal with birds caught in fishing lines, and sadly, it wouldn’t be the last.

But moments like this, where everything turns out okay, and a scared little swan gets to reunite with his family,  are what make the hard days worth it.

And for Gill, who had watched this swan family grow day by day, seeing the little one safe again was more than a relief.

It reminded her how much these animals need our love and care, and how amazing it is when people step up to help.