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Harris's hawk rescued after rooftop aerial tangle

Katy PrickettBBC News, Essex
News imageEssex County Fire & Rescue Service A firefighter wearing a yellow hard helmet and beige uniform with hi-vis yellow stripes on his arms holding a Harris's hawk on his left arm. The bird has dark plummage Essex County Fire & Rescue Service
The bird was happy to pose with firefighter Harry McWilliam after it was safely brought down from the roof

A Harris's hawk which got into a bit of tangle with a rooftop TV aerial has been rescued by a firefighter.

Crews were called to a property in Harlow just before 20:00 BST on Monday and used an aerial ladder to reach the bird of prey, which was in distress.

An Essex County Fire & Rescue Service spokesperson said firefighter Harry McWilliam "received tips on how to carefully handle the bird from his owner" before making the ascent.

"It was one of our more unusual animal rescues," said station manager Scott Fretton.

News imageEssex County Fire & Rescue Service An aerial ladder platform against a cloudy sky approaching a Harris's hawk on an aerial. The hawk has its wings outspread against the sky, but is unable to fly off. The back views of two fighters in yellow jackets and hard helmets can be seen on the platform. Essex County Fire & Rescue Service
The fire service was concerned the owner "would try and scale the roof to rescue the bird which was in distress, so swooped in to help"

"Harry took advice from the owner and covered the bird in a blanket to keep him calm, before releasing him from the aerial and placing him in a box to bring him back to the ground safely," he added.

Residents came out to watch the rescue and applauded Mr McWilliam when the bird was freed, the fire service said.

"It was a lead on the hawk that tangled up around the aerial [trapping it]," a spokesperson added.

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