Two swans needed to be saved
16:17, 25 Oct 2025Updated 16:18, 25 Oct 2025
Crews at Sale Water Park(Image: Gaynor Mullin-McGlashan)
Firefighters descended on a Greater Manchester beauty spot to recover two swans with suspected bird flu.
Crews attended Sale Water Park in Sale, Trafford, shortly before midday on Saturday (October 25) to assist the RSPCA.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) says two swans had become stuck and were believed to be carrying bird flu.
Sadly, RSPCA officers had to put the two swans down following their rescue.
Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE
It comes as an investigation is underway into potential bird flu at Sale Water Park, following the deaths of a number of birds over recent days.
A spokesperson for GMFRS said: “Just before 12pm this afternoon, firefighters were called to assist the RSPCA at an incident in Sale water park in Trafford.
“Two swans had become stuck in shallow, muddy water and were believed to be carrying bird flu. The RSCPA used their raft to retrieve the birds with assistance from fire service personnel.
Firefighters assisted the RSPCA at the scene(Image: Gaynor Mullin-McGlashan)
“The swans were humanely euthanised at the scene by the RSPCA. Crews were at the scene for around 45 minutes.”
Trafford council confirmed on Friday that several birds had died at Sale Water Park this week.
They were being tested for bird flu, with the cause of their deaths yet to be confirmed.
The authority says bird flue is ‘normal for this time of year’, with wild birds carrying the disease during migration from Europe and Asia.
Recently in the North West, Defra has confirmed bird flu among three Canada geese in Warrington and three more birds in Lancashire, over the course of one week.
A Trafford council spokesperson said on Friday: “Bird flu has been detected in a number of wild birds across Great Britain, including the North West of England. This is normal for this time of year as wild birds carry the disease when migrating to the UK from Europe and Asia.
“Over the last three days, several birds have died at Sale Water Park and are being tested for bird flu. Wild birds are susceptible to a range of diseases and injuries, and not all dead birds will have been infected with bird flu.
“The risk to the general public’s health is very low, but we are urging people to be vigilant when enjoying the water park.
“At this moment, we are asking members of the public not to feed birds directly from their hands and for dog owners to keep their pets on a lead and out of the water.”
Anyone who sees a dead wild bird is urged not to touch it, but to report it to the Government website here.