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| 'Lost' grey seal rescued from field in St Helens | |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| A seal found in a field in Merseyside has been taken to a wildlife hospital "exhausted" after being rescued. | A seal found in a field in Merseyside has been taken to a wildlife hospital "exhausted" after being rescued. |
| The "distressed" sea mammal was found near Newton Brook in Newton-le-Willows at about 09:45 GMT, police said. | The "distressed" sea mammal was found near Newton Brook in Newton-le-Willows at about 09:45 GMT, police said. |
| Police, firefighters, animal rescue officers and a farmer herded him with brooms and metal fences before putting him into an RSPCA trailer. | Police, firefighters, animal rescue officers and a farmer herded him with brooms and metal fences before putting him into an RSPCA trailer. |
| The grey seal could have travelled up to 20 miles (32km) up the River Mersey from the sea, before getting "lost". | |
| The 5ft (1.2m) long male suffered a head injury and had discharge from his nose, the RSPCA said | The 5ft (1.2m) long male suffered a head injury and had discharge from his nose, the RSPCA said |
| He was taken to the RSPCA's hospital in Nantwich, Cheshire for assessment after the rescue, which ended at 14:00 GMT. | He was taken to the RSPCA's hospital in Nantwich, Cheshire for assessment after the rescue, which ended at 14:00 GMT. |
| The animal was first identified as a common seal but, following closer examination, the RSPCA later confirmed it was a grey seal. | |
| RSPCA inspector John Brooks said: "This is the first time I have ever come across a seal in a field. | RSPCA inspector John Brooks said: "This is the first time I have ever come across a seal in a field. |
| "There is a brook nearby but that is only about three feet deep. If he followed the rivers and tributaries he could've travelled as far as 20 miles from the sea." | "There is a brook nearby but that is only about three feet deep. If he followed the rivers and tributaries he could've travelled as far as 20 miles from the sea." |
| Police said once the animal has fully recovered, the RSPCA "hope to release the seal back into its natural habitat". | Police said once the animal has fully recovered, the RSPCA "hope to release the seal back into its natural habitat". |
| British Divers Marine Life Rescue Service (BDMLR) were called to rescue the seal by police after it was found by a dog walker. | British Divers Marine Life Rescue Service (BDMLR) were called to rescue the seal by police after it was found by a dog walker. |
| Rachael Fraser, from the service, said: "We think he's come from the Mersey area, which is tidal, and he's come up the bank here and he's got lost. | Rachael Fraser, from the service, said: "We think he's come from the Mersey area, which is tidal, and he's come up the bank here and he's got lost. |
| "It's very unusual." | "It's very unusual." |
| Steve Marsh, a colleague, said: "It's not an easy job certainly because they are large animals. | Steve Marsh, a colleague, said: "It's not an easy job certainly because they are large animals. |
| "They can be quite aggressive and we do have people in our charity that can actually handle those large seals." | "They can be quite aggressive and we do have people in our charity that can actually handle those large seals." |
| Grey seals | |
| Source: The Mammal Society | Source: The Mammal Society |