A swan that was caught in a canal overflow in Timperley has been given a new home after a rescue operation by the RSPCA and fire officers.
Animal Rescue Officer Stephen Wickham carried out a rope rescue with the help of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service to reach the stricken bird, who was trapped on the Bridgewater Canal off Deansgate Lane.
The swan is likely to have been pursued off the canal by rivals and had been trying unsuccessfully to get back onto the main water course over a couple of days.
After being lowered down into the overflow, Wickham used a pole to reach the swan and carried it up onto the canalside.
“The water was quite high because of the recent storms and it wasn’t easy to get to him. He kept swimming away from me after I got in,” said Wickham, who is trained in Swiftwater Rescue Techniques (SRT).
“The water was waist-high and was full of rubbish. But we got him out and he was fine.
“Now we have relocated him to a pool at a nature reserve, close to where he was found, where there are only females.”
Wickham went to the scene on Saturday after his partner, who is a qualified swan ringer, spotted social media postings highlighting the bird’s plight.
The RSPCA advises members of the public to take care when approaching wildlife in dangerous locations such as this one and to call for help and report the matter to the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999.
