Worried residents contacted East Sussex Wildlife Rescue & Ambulance Service (WRAS) after spotting a swan on the River Ouse at Lewes with fishing line hanging out of its mouth and attached to fishing weights.
Rescuers attended on site on Monday 22nd but were unable to catch the swan from the bank, so asked British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) if they would help provide a boat for the rescue. As the tide was low, the charities planned a rescue for the morning of Tuesday 23rd April. Overnight the weights came loose and disappeared, but it was clear from the swan's behaviour that there was something wrong.