Rescuer was at the "right place at right time" to save duck family stranded on the busy M27
An RSPCA rescuer has revealed how they in “the right place at right time” to save duck family who were stranded on the busy M27.
RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer (ARO) Morgan Ellison was travelling westbound between junctions nine and ten north of Fareham at 10am on Monday (30 March) when she spotted a mother duck and her ducklings in peril in a dangerous spot.
She said: “I was driving to a job along the motorway when I saw a mum duck and her three ducklings running along the central reservation.
“I called the police who got the Highway Traffic Officers out to close the motorway so that I could safely catch mum and her ducklings.
“I managed to catch mum and three ducklings but the mother didn’t want to leave the drain nearby and when I went over I could hear more ducklings inside the drain.”
Highways reopened the road while the team came up with a plan, contacting Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service for help. As previously reported by The News, a team from Cosham came to the scene and managed to pull two more ducklings out of the drain.
Morgan added: “We reunited the babies with their mum and it was lovely to see them back together. I drove them all to a pond nearby and released them onto the water; it was wonderful to watch them paddle off into the sunshine. It was a fantastic team effort with partner agencies and shows how we can help animals safely and quickly when we all work together - a job well done!”
Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service Crew Manager Curtis Miles said: "As a firefighter you really never know what the next call out will involve – and this certainly will be a memorable one.
"It was a real team effort, and as always it was great to work alongside RSPCA and Highways teams.
"It was brilliant that we were able to play our part in achieving a successful outcome, reuniting the two ducklings with their mother."
A National Highways spokesperson said: "Our Traffic Officers are often first on the scene when an incident happens and create a safe working area by managing traffic.
"If you see an animal on the carriageway, never put yourself in a dangerous situation and call our Customer Contact Centre on 0300 123 5000 for assistance."