HAULOVER BEACH, Fla. (WSVN) — Miami-Dade Fire Rescue helped to free a pelican found caught in a fishing line hanging from a bridge in Haulover Beach.
According to eyewitnesses, the pelican got tangled in a fishing line hanging from the Haulover Inlet Bridge. Boaters spotted the trapped bird and attempted to lend a helping hand, but the strong Haulover Cut current prevented them from reaching it.
Thankfully, a fisherman had already tipped off the Pelican Seabird Station, who then called Miami-Dade Fire Ocean Rescue. Crews raced to the scene on personal watercrafts to save the day, but they soon realized this would be a tricky rescue.
After climbing up on the bridge, rescuers strategized on how to best assist the distressed bird. Crews untangled the pelican and gently secured its large beak. Then, after watching for boats coming through, Ocean Rescue diver Axel Decamilolis jumped in the water while holding the pelican. "We jumped in and did what we had to do to get that little guy safe," he said. "This is my neighbor. I got to rescue my neighbors, so anytime I get to rescue my neighbor, it’s always a good thing."
7News cameras captured the rescuer placing the bird on a raft being pulled by a personal watercraft.
Then it was time for the second phase of the rescue. "Once we drive him back to Pelican Harbor Seabird Station, we’ll just get him on the right track and the road to recovery, clear out any line or hook that may be remaining and hopefully release him back again," said Carla Zepeda with the Pelican Harbor Seabird Station.
Crews took the pelican to the station, where he was treated. Dr. Beth Hirschfeld showed 7News the hook they fished out of the bird’s left wing. "We did X-rays to make sure he didn’t swallow any hooks internally as well, and we cleaned the wound," she said.
The pelican is expected to make a full recovery.
For Decamilolis, the rescue was all in a day’s work. "We can’t let none of our animals die out there," he said.
When the pelican does make a full recovery, he or she will be released back into the wild.
#MDFRInTheNews: Crews free tangled pelican in Haulover Beach @wsvn https://t.co/dew2Tw2Jlu pic.twitter.com/9L4qW91csr
— MDFR (@MiamiDadeFire) April 25, 2016