PREVIEW

A swan was left literally between a rock and a hard place after being blown into a cluster of boulders by gale-force winds.

The unlucky bird became wedged in a narrow gap on Barton on Sea Beach, Hampshire, as Storm Austen battered the south coast.

Passersby spotted the trapped swan and raised the alarm, prompting an RSPCA rescue operation.

Inspector Jo Story arrived at the beach on Friday afternoon, October 23, and had to clamber across the rocks to reach him.

She managed to carefully free the swan before wrapping him in a towel and lifting him to safety.

Jo said: “The poor swan had been blown into the rocks by the high winds that battered the south coast during Storm Austen.

“He’d somehow got trapped in a small gap in a cluster of large rocks and couldn’t get himself out.

“Thankfully I was able to clamber into the rocks, get hold of him, and carefully fold his wing in and to his chest so I could lift him out.

“I wrapped him in a towel and a very kind passerby stopped to help me pull myself out!”

The swan was then taken to Wildlife in Need in Bournemouth, where he was checked over and cared for while he recovered from his ordeal.

He spent five nights at the wildlife centre before being given a clean bill of health.

Jo later collected the bird and released him at Christchurch Town Quay on Wednesday morning, October 28.

Heartwarming pictures show the swan safely back on the water after his brush with danger.

Jo added: “It’s always so lovely to see them fit, healthy and heading back into the wild where they belong.”