2 May 2008 - Dundee Sea Cadets & MVS Tay assist in Rescue

On the evening of Thursday 1st May 2008 we received a call reporting that a Gull with an injured wing was struggling to stay afloat in the Victoria Dock, Dundee harbour, Dundee. 

 

Our duty team quickly responded and found a Herring Gull in the water alongside the Frigate Unicorn.  It was obvious that the birds wing was badly fractured as the bones could be seen sticking up into the air and blood was all over the feathers.

 

As time was of the essence and the bird was obviously in great distress the SWRT team decided to contact the Maritime Volunteer Service and Dundee Sea Cadets to request assistance. The SCC Commanding Officer immediatly tasked a motor launch with crew to take our rescue team out to recover the bird, whilst the MVS put an inflatable boat and crew into the dock to act as 'guard boat' trying to prevent the bird from making its way under the City Quay shops. 

 

After some skilful manoeuvring by the boats coxswain the team managed to catch the gull in a large landing net.

 

The bird was recovered to our ambulance where the decision was made to put it to sleep in order to prevent any further suffering.

 

We would like to express our thanks to the Dundee Sea Cadets and Tay Unit of the Maritime Volunteer Service without whom we could not have completed this rescue.