Chris Highton from the Wiltshire Wildlife Hospital cradles Toby
A duck is recovering following an operation to remove a crossbow bolt from its body after having been rescued by youngsters from the Kennet and Avon Canal.
The duck had been seen two weeks ago on the canal at Honeystreet, near Pewsey, by members of the Wiltshire Wildlife Hospital with the nine-inch long wooden bolt skewering it.
But, despite all efforts by the animal rescue organisation, the duck evaded capture.
Then, on Wednesday last week, four youngsters staying on a canal boat moored nearby coaxed the injured bird onto their canoe and they gently brought it to shore, where it sat on a table outside the Barge Inn.
Local carpenter Mike Carr, who was doing work for landlord Adrian Potts, helped the children call the Wiltshire Wildlife Hospital and Chris Highton came and picked up the duck, which the youngsters had named Toby.
The hospital's vet operated on the bird at the weekend and successfully removed the bolt.
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Fourteen-year-old Jillian Crouch, whose family lives on a narrowboat on the canal, organised the rescue effort.
She said: "We knew this duck had an arrow through it and we were really afraid it would die.
The rescue party made up of, from left, Jillian, Amy, Shralee, James, Michael Carr and his daughter Katherine
"We went out on my canoe. James - I don't know his second name - paddled and I caught the duck with my hands. I thought of using a net at first but was afraid of hurting the duck.
"It didn't struggle once I had it in my arms. It seemed to know we only wanted to help."
They sat the duck on a table outside The Barge, and waited for help.
Jillian said: "We rang the RSPCA about five times, but nobody came.
"Eventually the man from the wildlife hospital came and took Toby away with him."
Jillian said she was delighted to hear that Toby had made a full recovery from the operation to remove the crossbow bolt.
Marilyn Boyes-Korkis of the wildlife hospital said: "Toby is an extremely lucky duck. The bolt had missed a main artery and vital organs by millimetres.
"He is now recovering well but whoever did it must have lured him, possibly with food, and shot him at close range.
"The question is now, do we put him back on the canal and risk the same thing happening again?"
It is by no means an isolated incident, said Mrs Boyes-Korkis. Recently the wildlife hospital was called on to rescue a fox cub that had had its pelvis shattered by an air-gun pellet.
Sadly, on that occasion, the animal had to be put to sleep.
A report is being sent to the RSPCA and the police will also be informed.
Jo Barr at the RSPCA said: "This was an horrendous thing to have been done to any creature. If anyone has any information about this terrible attack they should ring our special line 08705 555 999.
"All information will be treated in strict confidence."
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