VIDEO: Tiny ducklings rescued from dark storm drain

Heartwarming footage shows tiny ducklings trapped in a storm drain being rescued and reunited with their mother.
The nine ducklings were rescued from the drain on Saturday. Pictures: RSPCAThe nine ducklings were rescued from the drain on Saturday. Pictures: RSPCA
The nine ducklings were rescued from the drain on Saturday. Pictures: RSPCA

Nine ducklings were liberated from a storm drain off Combes Road in Lancing by the RSPCA on Saturday after a member of the public raised the alarm.

When RSPCA animal collection officer Louis Horton arrived at the scene, he realised there was only one way to get to the get the ducklings out of the drain – he had to go underground.

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Louis said: “To get to the ducklings, I had to climb down an access well into the underground storm drain then crawl horizontally for about four metres.

The nine ducklings were rescued from the drain on Saturday. Pictures: RSPCAThe nine ducklings were rescued from the drain on Saturday. Pictures: RSPCA
The nine ducklings were rescued from the drain on Saturday. Pictures: RSPCA

“I found the poor little things huddling together in a dead-end, tweeting fearfully for their mother.

“I needed to go down twice to rescue all nine ducklings. Luckily I was eventually able to return to the surface with all of them no worse for their experience.”

The ducklings were then released back into the wild, where they swiftly found their mother.

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“Amazingly, we were able to reunite the youngsters with their relieved mother, who then walked them back to their pond.

They were later released back into the wildThey were later released back into the wild
They were later released back into the wild

“It is so lovely to have a happy rescue like this. We’d like to thank the member of public who first alerted us to the baby birds’ plight.

“I’m also extremely grateful for the second member of public who helped me with the rescue. I would not have been able to do this on my own.

“It’s a really good example of the RSPCA and the public working together to rescue animals in need.”

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Members of the public who spot trapped ducklings or other wild animals in need, they should contact the RSPCA’s 24-hour cruelty and advice line on 0300 1234 999 immediately to report the incident.

The nine ducklings were rescued from the drain on Saturday. Pictures: RSPCAThe nine ducklings were rescued from the drain on Saturday. Pictures: RSPCA
The nine ducklings were rescued from the drain on Saturday. Pictures: RSPCA

Video credit: RSPCA

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They were later released back into the wildThey were later released back into the wild
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