A rowing boat belonging to Leatherhead-based charity Wildlife Aid has been stolen - in the middle of an animal rescue mission.

Wildlife Aid founder Simon Cowell and three of the charity's volunteers were called out to a lake in Bewbush, Crawley, to save a swan which had a fishing hook through its beak and jaw.

The swan was near death as it was completely unable to open its beak.

Having rowed across Ifield Mill Pond to get to the swan, the wildlife rescuers set about removing the hook from the creature's mouth. Thenighttime rescue was a success, the hook was removed and the swan was released.

But by the time the rescue team had finished their work, their boat had vanished.

The rescue team say that children may have taken it for a ‘joy-ride' on the lake and then dumped it.

Mr Cowell said: "A rowing boat is absolutely essential for Wildlife Aid as a lot of our rescues are water-based and we often have to get out into the middle of lakes and rivers or into marshland"

"On this occasion we'd crossed Ifield Mill Pond and got out of the boat to attend to the poor swan, and in the time that we were dealing with the casualty the boat was taken."

A regular volunteer with the charity, Simon Preston, who has been on many animal rescue missions, said: “This is very annoying and disappointing.

"In fact it is absolutely unbelievable that someone should steal the boat while people are trying to rescue an injured creature.

“The boat was a bit of a bath tub but it was absolutely essential to Wildlife Aid.”

Wildlife Aid is appealing for help to get a new rescue boat. If you are able to support the Appeal, please call Simon on 01372 377 332 or email wildlife@pncl.co.uk.

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