A little girl saved a distressed swan trapped inside a storm drain on Long Island. People have been giving her praise for doing the right thing.
Unusual noise from the drain
Last week, the WABC reported that Olivia Cammarata heard an unusual noise coming from the drain when she was walking with her grandmother right near her Merrick home. The five-year-old girl and her grandma saw a large, white swan trapped in the storm grate. It was trying to escape but to no avail.
Olivia told CBS2's Steve Overmyer that she felt it was weird when she saw the swan. The bird had swum from a nearby lake and got into the storm drains before it ran out of gas. Olivia said that it might be feeling sad because it did not feel comfortable.
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The little girl's quick action saved the swan
News4JAX reported that Olivia quickly took her grandma's phone and commanded Siri to text her dad. Olivia's father told WABC that he received a text message saying that there is an emergency because there is a swan in the drain. He called Nassau County emergency services and animal control when he arrived at the scene.
The first responders did their best to free the bird. Police officers lifted the drain cover as two wildlife rehabilitators removed the swan from the drain using a large net.
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The distressed swan could not escape on its own
Officials said that if Olivia had not seen the bird, there is a chance that it would not have survived the incident. Karenlynn Stracher, wildlife rehabilitator, told WABC that the swan was definitely in distress. She explained that there is no way for it to escape on its own. Stracher said that when swans could not spread their wings, they could not move.
Nassau County Police Department (NCPD) officers noted that the successful rescue of the swan is an essential reminder of why people need to speak up. They praised Olivia for bringing something good despite the difficult times that the world is having right now.
Officers' message to kids
The outlet reported that Lashaun Carr, NCPD officer, has a message for the kids. The officer said that children should tell their parents when they see something unusual, like a distressed animal. Carr said that it is a way so they can call help and the officers could handle the situation.
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David Tait, NCPD officer, added that despite everything that has been happening right now, something good like this happens. He said that it is amazing that a little girl and a swan could bring a smile on people's faces even for a little while.
Little Olivia told WABC that she felt good after rescuing the swan she named Peanut. She said that when she grows up, she wants to become a veterinarian, so that she could take care of pets.
