Swan rescued from frozen Wisconsin lake with hovercraft

A specialist water rescue team from Wisconsin's Western Lakes Fire District (WLFD) rescued an ill and injured swan that was stuck on a frozen lake in the town of Ottawa, Waukesha County yesterday.

WLFD said they were alerted to the bird in distress by a concerned citizen and mobilised personnel from their Special Operations Division Aviation and Water Rescue.

The swan, which WLFD said appeared unable to fly, was initially observed and assessed using a drone after which a two-man team was sent out onto the ice in a hovercraft to rescue it.

The swan was subsequently handed over to a local wildlife rehabilitation centre and WLFD said the bird was doing "extremely well".