Fire crews battled to rescue a seagull trapped in a lamp post in Auckland - but the bird died

Tuesday, 2 January 2018

Fire crews respond to a seagull stuck at the top of a street light on Lorraine Ave Mt Albert.

All creatures great and small are under the protection of New Zealand Fire and Emergency, but even firefighters' best efforts sometimes are not enough.

Three fire trucks, including a ladder truck, turned out to rescue a seagull stuck at the top of a lamp post in central Auckland on Tuesday.

But, although the bird was freed, the emergency efforts were in vain as the badly injured bird had to be put down

The bird was rescued, but it's injuries were too severe to survive.

The seagull's foot was stuck in the light's housing unit.

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The rescue was a joint effort between the NZFE and the SPCA.

Balmoral station officer James Dench said all the appliances were available to for use at other jobs, if necessary.

The aerial appliance was used to ensure staff safety, he said.

'Seagulls in light posts aren't that common though we do assist with a number of animal rescues around the country.'

General manager of Marketing and Funding for the SPCA, Dominique Leeming, said that the organisation does get called out to these sorts of incidents on a fairly regular basis.

'I don't have the exact numbers however, this is the second call out like this in Auckland over the last few days,' she said.

'Unfortunately, because the bird had been trapped for some time and had tried to free itself, its leg was badly shattered and we had to euthanise the bird on humane grounds.'

Leeming said anyone who saw animals trapped should notify their local SPCA.