Firefighters Rescue Ducklings Trapped in Underground Car Park
Birds had fallen into the building's ventilation system on Rainville Road
Malena Orlando with the ducklings
A group of ducklings had to be rescued by firefighters after they became trapped in a building on Rainville Road on the border between Hammersmith and Fulham.
The ducklings had fallen from a roof of a building into an underground car park along the river front and were stuck behind a metal grille inside the ventilation system.
Firefighter Malena Orlando, who climbed inside the space to rescue the birds said,"We were called to assist the RSPCA with some ducklings that were trapped behind a wall. We arrived and were told that some ducklings had fallen from a roof into the car park ventilation system and were trapped in two separate parts of the void.
"We pitched a short extension ladder to either side of the large ventilation grilles and using an electric cutter and saw, we removed the two sections of the grilles to gain access.
"I then climbed inside the void, catching the ducklings by the hand and placing them into a box. The chicks were then reunited with their mother and after being checked over they swam away down the river.
“We love animals and are always happy to assist if our specialist equipment is required, as in this case. We would always encourage people to call the RSPCA in the first instance if they see an animal stuck or in distress."
Her colleagues described it as a 'quacking effort'.
The Brigade was called at 11.45am and the incident was over for firefighters by 12.52pm. Fire crews from Paddington fire station attended the scene.
July 15, 2020