A FAMILY of 12 ducklings that fell down a drain were saved thanks to a ‘quack’-thinking member of the public.

The man was watching the ducklings as they followed their mum across the road in Appleton, before noticing that one poor duckling fall in a grate.

As the mum went back to the trapped duckling on Pineways, one by one, all the others followed.

But all the ducklings ended up slipping into the drain, while the distressed adult bird looked on helplessly.

The man saw the ducklings swimming around in the water, but he was unable to free them by himself.

Thinking on his feet, he contacted the RSPCA and animal rescuer inspector Jenny Bethel was sent to the scene.

Jenny used two fishing nets to help scoop the ducklings to safety and placed them in a box.

 

She then got the mother bird to follow her to a nearby lake, and once she jumped into the water, her ducklings were released by Jenny and they all followed her.

“The man could see the ducklings swimming in the grate, but they were unable to get out and their mother was getting stressed, so he contacted us for help,” Jenny said.

“Using one fishing net to block the drainage hole and another to scoop them out, I was able to safely catch them and put them into a box.

“I then took them to a nearby lake where they were released to their mother. It was such a lovely rescue.

“It was great to see them happily run into the water and swim off after the mum and I was able to catch the special moment on video.”

For more information about what to do if you find a duckling in need of help, visit rspca.org.uk/ducklings