A South London famous seal was saved last weekend after splashing around the River Thames with a fishing hook lodged in its mouth for nearly a week.

Vets and medics spent Saturday morning (Feb 20) rescuing the nine-month-old mammal from Teddington Lock, who is known to locals as ‘Freddie Mercury’.

Freddie's condition was first reported to the British Diver Marine Life hotline on Monday (Feb 15) after concerned residents had seen the seal struggling to eat its catch, due to a large fishing lure hanging from the edge of its mouth.

Freddie swimming in the Thames Estuary (Image: BDMLR and Teddingtown Town)

Freddie swimming in the Thames Estuary (Image: BDMLR and Teddington Town)

The BDMLR (British Divers Marine Life Rescue) team hatched a plan to catch the seal, by closing the gates of the lock and weilding a large fishing net.

Volunteers from Kent, East Sussex and Yorkshire came together, bearing nets, inflatable rafts, and rescue chains for Saturday’s big operation.

It took nine helpers to lift the seal from the water to safety and in the end, the hook became dislodged during the rescue.

It took a team to rescue the seal (Image: BDMLR and Teddingtown Town)

It took a team to rescue the seal (Image: BDMLR and Teddington Town)

After the vet treated the wound Freddie was released back into the Thames Estuary with a new lease of life.

In a statement on social media the BDMLR said:

“During the examination, the flipper tag number was checked, and we soon had a full history of this twice rescued 9-month-old seal. Hopefully, this third rescue will be his last.

“He was released away from the river nearer open water and a small colony of other seals.

Freddie set for a new lease of life (Image: BDMLR and Teddingtown Town)

Freddie set for a new lease of life (Image: BDMLR and Teddington Town)

“We would like to thank Teddington Lock for their assistance, the residents of Teddington Lock for their cooperation, and to Veterinarian Scott Miller.”

You can find out more about the work of BDMLR and donate to their rescue efforts here.