British emergency services rescued an "exhausted" lost seal stranded in a muddy field about 30 kilometres (over 18 miles) from the sea in northern England on Monday.
Spotted by a woman walking her dog, photos of the incongruous marine creature lying on the grass spread quickly on social media and curious onlookers gathered at the field in Newton-le-Willows to see it.
The young grey male seal is thought to have travelled up the River Mersey from the Irish Sea to reach the landlocked village.
Aided by a local farmer, rescue services crowded around the seal with brooms, urging it toward a trailer as it pushed itself along the grass with its flippers, snapping occasionally at the rescuers.
Tempted by fish, the seal was successfully herded into a trailer and brought to a wildlife hospital for assessment, police said.
"Its condition is described as being exhausted," police said in a statement. "Once fully recovered they hope to release the seal back into its natural habitat."
Share
