Heartbroken Devizes swan rescued after being found hurt

Charlie the Swan was rescued after being found injured

A heartbroken swan has been rescued after being found injured a week after watching his mate die in an accident.

Charlie the Swan, who lived in The Crammer pond in Devizes, Wiltshire, was found injured on Saturday.

Wildlife charities had already planned to rescue Charlie after becoming worried he that was going to be hit by a car due to a change in his behaviour.

Sally Noseda, who lives nearby, said: "The one thing that we were working relentlessly to prevent, happened."

"Charlie took off on Friday night and we thought he would appear again the next morning, when Swan Support were planning on coming to rescue him.

"But he didn't come back," added the 74-year-old.

Swan Support, a specialist charity based in Berkshire, said Charlie needed to be rescued after his grieving behaviour began to put him in danger.

The specialist charity, based in Berkshire, said it was "a matter of time until he is killed as well" after he started wandering down alleyways, into gardens, calling and searching for his mate.

Charlie and his mate were a regular sight in the town

Ms Noseda said locals, who had banded together to help watch over Charlie, even helping him cross a zebra crossing, were worried for the swan.

"He was found with a hurt wing and foot and Wiltshire Wildlife Hospital came out and then Swan Support picked him up," she said.

"We hope it was just bruising and swelling. It is so sad. It was exactly a week on from losing his mate, we tried really hard to look after him," added Ms Noseda.

She added that although the community would miss Charlie, people are relieved that he is off to a new home.

Charlie had been grieving since his mate's death, with his change in behaviour putting him in danger

Wendy Hermon, 54, from Bray, Berkshire, helps run Swan Support and said that Charlie is expected to make a full recovery.

"It is a shame he got hurt. It proves our point to what we had been saving before unfortunately," she said.

"He is going to be alright though, he is such a lovely natured swan," added Ms Hermon.

Charlie will be in isolation for a week because of bird flu precautions, before being released to a new home in Berkshire.