Starling trapped in drain leaves rescuers baffled

A starling left rescuers baffled when he had to be retrieved from a drain in which he had somehow become trapped.

The RSPCA was called when a member of the public spotted the bird popping his head through a hole in the drain in Downham Market in Norfolk, though there was no indication of how he ended up there.

RSPCA animal collection officer Naemi Kilbey found she could not shift the cover, which was in the middle of a road, so called in the local fire brigade for help.

Norfolk Fire and Rescue lifted the drain, using what was described as “a combination of specialist lifting equipment and brute strength”, allowing Ms Kilbey to reach in and catch the starling.

“When you attend an animal rescue, you can usually work out how they got themselves into the predicament – but in the case of this little starling, I really don’t know how on earth he got himself there.”