A Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crew has ruled out 'fowl play' after safely retrieving six wayward ducklings from a drain at Lake Macquarie.
A family of eight ducks was waddling along Melroy Drive at Mount Hutton around 2.15 this afternoon when it encountered a large drainage grate.
Mum and Dad duck safely made it across, but their offspring fell between the quacks, dropping about three meters to the water below.
FRNSW crew
A FRNSW crew from 505 station, Tingira Heights, responded to the scene and, after using a gas detector to confirm the drain was safe, Qualified Firefighter Ben Abbott ventured down to reach the fluffy fugitives.
Over half an hour, he carefully corralled and cradled the animals as he made several trips up and down the drain's ladder, reuniting the ducklings with their concerned parents. Water off a duck's back for the experienced, local firefighters.
