Local man wades in to rescue stranded swans

A BRAVE local man came to the rescue last week to free two stranded swans at Duncan’s Dam, Lisburn after they had been there for five days.

Julieanne Moore, from the Moira Road area, spotted the pair on Monday April 16 as she walked her Border Collie Alfie.

Her concern grew when the swans were in the same place the next day and by Wednesday she contacted organisations such as the USPCA, the PSNI and Lisburn City Council to get help for the animals.

She was told no-one could help but a fellow dog walker to whom she had expressed her concerns waded in himself and lifted each bird from where they were stranded, before placing them back onto the lake.

Julieanne, who is a member of the Ulster Wildlife Trust, explained: “I walk my dog at Duncan’s Dam most mornings and on Monday morning I noticed the two swans under the bridge. When I went back on Tuesday they were still there and I thought that was a bit strange.

“On Wednesday they were still there and I thought they were obviously stuck.

“They seemed a bit distressed so I phoned the USPCA first and then I phoned the PSNI.

“I didn’t get much of a response from anybody and on Thursday I phoned again, although it was very difficult to get anybody to say they would even come.”