Western Road briefly closed as emergency services respond to unusual animal rescue
Emergency services were called to Western Road in Hove this evening after a seagull became trapped in netting on the roof of a building above Tesco.
The incident, which drew a crowd of onlookers and temporarily closed part of the busy street, began around 5.43pm on Wednesday, July 17. Crews from Preston Circus Fire Station were dispatched to the scene, supported by an aerial ladder platform, to assist with the rescue operation.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing firefighters extending equipment high above the storefronts as they worked to reach the distressed bird, which appeared to be tangled in roof netting designed to deter gulls from nesting.
By 6.33pm, the East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service confirmed the seagull had been safely released. A video from the scene shows a firefighter gently holding the bird after its ordeal.
A fire service spokeswoman said: “We were called at 5.43pm to reports of a seagull stuck in netting at a premises on Western Road. Crews used an aerial ladder platform to release the seagull and left the scene at 6.33pm.”
Traffic was briefly disrupted as part of the road was cordoned off during the operation, but the situation was quickly resolved without further incident.
This unusual callout highlights the varied and often unpredictable nature of the work undertaken by emergency services in urban areas. It also underscores the risks posed to wildlife by urban infrastructure designed to deter them.
Locals expressed relief and some amusement at the dramatic response to a stranded bird, though many also praised the fire service for treating the situation with seriousness and compassion.
No injuries were reported — human or avian.
Add your first comment to this post