Firefighters in the western German city of Kleve, near the Dutch border, successfully rescued a bird that astonishingly survived after being struck in the neck by an arrow, local fire authorities reported on Saturday.
The injured great crested grebe was first noticed by residents on Friday as it continued swimming across a lake despite the severe wound.
Concerned by the bird’s condition, locals alerted emergency responders, prompting a rescue operation.
“We also asked ourselves how the bird could survive that. The animal was very lucky that everything vital was missed,” a fire brigade spokesman said.
To reach the bird, rescue teams deployed personnel from Germany’s water rescue service along with a fire brigade boat.
After a coordinated effort, emergency crews managed to surround and safely capture the grebe.
The bird received immediate first aid treatment on the shoreline before being transported to a veterinarian, where it underwent surgery.
Authorities have since launched an investigation to determine who was responsible for shooting the animal.
