A particularly moving rescue operation unfolded in Thessaloniki when a seagull was found in distress in the waters of the dam of the Thermi, as it had become entangled in about a metre of string and was unable to move. Rescuers and firefighters were mobilized to free the seagull, and they set up an entire operation to rescue the injured bird.

Stelios Geronymakis, a member of the wildlife rescue/reintegration team, spoke on ERTNews’ “Connections” show about how the rescue was carried out, while a man from the EMAK is shown in the video finally diving into the water to carry the gull to safety.

“The seagull had the misfortune of getting caught in a kite string… we pulled out a metre of string wrapped around its head, legs, and wings, while the bird was trapped in the centre of the lake, and there was no escape. There was a danger in the spot, because it’s an artificial dam, and there are several eddies created. We searched for a boat, but there was none, and I said we would swim, but they banned it and said a special department would come. When we took out the seagull, it was completely exhausted,” Geronymakis said, among other things, while the seagull has now recovered and regained its strength.