PREVIEW

A bird has been rescued by emergency services after a gull trapped itself in netting five storeys up on a building opposite Brighton Pier.

The bird, spotted struggling on the side of a building on Grand Junction Road, had become ensnared in netting. Passersby quickly raised the alarm, prompting a swift response from East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, with support from Sussex Police, who closed the busy road to allow crews to safely reach the animal.

RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Chloe Wilson, who attended the scene, said: “It was quite a dramatic rescue - the gull was tangled tightly in the netting, flapping to try and free himself, and hanging several storeys up, directly opposite the pier.”

She praised the efforts of firefighters who worked to free the bird, adding: “Firefighters did a brilliant job cutting him free as best they could, and once he was down I removed the remaining netting and gave him a full check over. He was understandably tired but otherwise in good condition, so I took him home overnight to monitor him.”

After a restful night, the bird was given a clean bill of health and released back to the wild the next day. Chloe said: “After a good night’s rest he was super feisty and bright, so I took him back down to the beach to release him back into the wild.”

The rescue drew a crowd of around 100 onlookers, all watching in awe as the emergency crews worked to save the bird. Chloe also took the opportunity to highlight the dangers posed by loose or poorly maintained netting, adding: “The incident shows just how dangerous loose or poorly maintained netting can be for wildlife. We’d always urge building owners to regularly check any netting designed to deter birds, to make sure it’s properly fitted and not posing a risk of entanglement. We’d rather see gulls soaring than snared.”