9:16am Friday 29th June 2012
FIVE ducklings were rescued from under a canal bridge by firefighters in Altrincham.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) was called by the RSPCA to Canal Road at 3.21pm on Thursday (June 28).
The ducklings and their mother had become trapped under a bridge in the overflow of the canal, which was about three-foot deep, and the RSPCA officer could not reach them.
Firefighters from Altrincham Fire Station went to the scene and located the ducklings before requesting support from the Water Incident Unit.
Crews who are specially trained in water rescues went into the water and shepherded the ducklings together but the mother flew off.
Watch Manager Mark Donohue said: "It was quite upsetting really because the mother flew off and we don't know whether she came back. But we got the five ducklings out and they were uninjured.
"We left them in the care of the RSPCA at the scene and it was hoped that they would be reunited with their mother. If not, they will be cared for by the RSPCA and released back into the wild when they are strong enough."
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