Firefighters rescue stricken gull chick

For two months, Brenda Morgan and her husband had been watching the seagull family build a nest, lay eggs and hatch two “very hungry” chicks on a rooftop opposite their home in Harewood Close.

Mrs Morgan said: “One of the chicks became rather adventurous and, whilst trying to fly, fell off the roof and was struggling to climb back up to safety – but not succeeding.

“We called the RSPCA and within the hour a lady officer arrived and assessed the situation and called the local fire service.

“On arrival they decided that they did not have the correct ladder to be able to reach the bird, so they contacted the team at Hastings, who duly arrived with a platform ladder.”

A firefighter then went up the ladder with a large net and scooped up the by-now injured chick (pictured).

Mrs Morgan said: “Needless to say the parent birds and their friends protested very loudly.

“The chick’s wing was broken so it was whisked away in a box to a local rescue centre where we were assured it would recover quickly.

“We would like to thank the RSPCA officer and both Bexhill and Hastings fire service teams for dealing with the situation so professionally and in such good humour.

“Some may say, “it is only a bird” but it gladdened our hearts to know that there are many caring people out there still.”

PICTURE: BRENDA MORGAN