Residents rally together to help injured swans

People came together to clear debris from a riverbank after swans were getting injured.

Last week, South Essex Wildlife Hospital said birds had developed an infection called bumblefoot after stepping on rough riverbank by the River Crouch.

On Friday night, Michelle Collier, from the charity, appealed for help to clear broken tiles in Hullbridge. She worried nobody would turn up, but was surprised to see a group already working when she arrived.

She said: "When I turned up, all I could see was just a row of buckets and people in wellies with their hoes, forks, spades, and it was just such a relief to see them come out. I expected about four hours, but we got it cleared in an hour and a half."

Collier has been with the wildlife hospital for 29 years and said the recent callout featured two of the "worst" cases of bumblefoot she had seen.

She used pillowcases to lift the swans up before putting them in the boot of her car.

She added: "It was just heartbreaking. One of them had to be put to sleep because it was that bad. It cuts the foot, which then gets infected with Staphylococcus, and then it goes into the bones, and once it's into the bones, there's not much you can do. It's a horrible condition.

"It's like us sticking a marble in our shoe on the hill and trying to walk around all day."

She praised "absolute legend" Jedd Cottis at TJ Cottis for providing the skip that collected "easily five tonnes" of rubble.

Despite not owning the slipway area, Hullbridge Parish Council said it is "aware of the concerns" and will "support efforts to ensure the welfare of wildlife in the area".

The Crouch Harbour Authority has been approached for comment.

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