Seal pup rescued in Orkney after getting stuck between rocks

A seal pup has been rescued after it got stuck down a hole between large boulders in Westray, Orkney.

The animal, which was wedged in coastal defences called rock armour at Rapness, was spotted on Thursday evening.

British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) made an assessment on Friday before carrying out a rescue operation on Saturday, with help from a fish farm firm.

Tom Hadley, of BDMLR, said the seal pup was “cross” but later appeared to be relieved to be freed.

He said the animal was in a “really tricky spot”.

He told BBC Radio Scotland’s Around Orkney programme that it was also “bitey end up”.

“They have got a pretty serious bite,” he said.

“What we had to do was put someone in the hole with it, but just out of reach, and distract it with a person waving a towel which meant it could be retrained and we could get it out.”

Local firm Cooke Aquaculture assisted by lifting away a rock.

Mr Hadley said: “It was pretty cross with us. They don't know we’re trying to help, they just see someone trying to attack them.”

The seal was checked for any injuries and found to be healthy.

Mr Hadley said: “It was a really fat, strong little seal.

“After a moment of collecting itself it had that kind of look in it’s eyes of ‘what on earth happened to me’.”

It was the second time in about a week BDMLR has rescued a seal from rock armour in Orkney.