Warning after young swan dies in Littlehampton

The cygnet was taken to a veterinary hospital at Worthing after being found with a crab line with a heavy weight attached, having swallowed a large hook. Sadly, it died before an operation could be carried out to remove the hook.

Staff from the nearby Look & Sea Centre and a volunteer from the lifeboat station had tried to remove the hook, but it was so large – about 35mm (1.5inches) – they were unable to do so.

They alerted Worthing animal rescue charity WADARS, which picked up the cygnet and took it to the Grove Lodge Veterinary Hospital, where an x-ray showed the hook was deep in the bird’s stomach.

A few years ago, councils and Littlehampton Harbour Board joined forces in a campaign to persuade people fishing for crabs not to use hooks, but to either tie bait to their line, or use a small bag to put the bait inside. Notices were put up along the riverside highlighting the danger to birds of using hooks.

Billy Elliot, of WADARS, said: “There was a definite decrease in the number of cases we were called out to, but this latest incident shows that not everyone is taking it to heart.

“We don’t want to be killjoys and spoil people’s fun, but we have a responsibility to protect wildlife.

“This was a very big sea fishing hook that was used, and there was absolutely no need to use something like that on a crabbing line.”

Rose Carter, who works at the Look & Sea Centre and keeps an eye on the many swans on the river, picked up the injured cygnet and took it to a private area at the rear of the building while the WADARS vehicle was on its way.

She said: “It’s just complete disregard on the part of fishermen and people using crabbing lines to just cut the lines with the hooks still on.”