Dead swans found near Broads drainage pump

The swans were found at Oby Dyke on the Broads

Dead swans have been discovered on the Broads after they got trapped in water near a drainage pump.

Marine and Wildlife Rescue said it received a call alerting them to four birds, including three which were dead, trapped at Oby Dyke, Norfolk, on Monday.

The charity said the birds appeared to have been stuck and were unable to climb the steep bank to get out.

The group's Dan Goldsmith said: "Swans require a good distance to get flight so flying in and out here was not possible."

After being alerted, a Broads Authority team arrived within 20 minutes.

By the time they arrived, the fourth swan had got out after the person who found the birds managed to flatten the vegetation around the river.

In a statement, the authority said it was aware of two dead swans and one which had "managed to leave the site".

Marine and Wildlife Rescue said it often found trapped swans

Marine and Wildlife Rescue said it would make inquiries to see what improvements could be made to the area, including cutting an inlet where the swan was able to leave and making sure the footpath was cut and maintained.

Mr Goldsmith said it was not an unusual incident, and the group often came across swans in a "predicament".

He said they had found swans trapped in ditches and unable to get out, and trapped between fences – "then they panic themselves and get completely stuck".

The Broads Authority said it was assisting Marine and Wildlife Rescue with its investigations.

"This is the first time we have received reports of any birds in distress at this site and Broads Control has not received any similar calls relating to other drainage sites across the Broads network," it said.

"We are endeavouring to contact the owner of the pump/sluice to make them aware and have also reported the incident to the Department for Environment for Rural Affairs."