Otterly crazy – Boat burst that led to Bridgnorth river rescue caused by animal bite
An otter is to blame for a puncture to a dinghy that led to two men having to be rescued from the River Severn in Bridgnorth after getting stranded.
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The occupants were led to safety by crews from Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service.
In a Facebook post Bridgnorth's Stuart Davidson stated: "Otter burst our boat. Two blokes, a deflated rubber and two fire engines. Things u see on a Wednesday night!"
The rescue unit was sent to the river at about 10.20pm after the alarm was raised when the men became stuck on the debris.
A fire service spokesman said the two men had been travelling down the river in a dinghy when their boat drifted over to an area of river debris and they got stuck.
He said: "They were quite safe where they were, they just had to be help from that log debris area."
A fire service spokesman said the two men had been travelling down the river in a dinghy when their boat got a puncture and they became stranded in the middle of the river on an area of tree debris.
He said: "They were quite safe where they were, they just had to be help from that log debris area."
The men were rescued by fire service boat and then checked over by an ambulance crew as a precaution by about 11.15pm.
Police were also at the scene.
The incident came just a day before work starts to remove debris that has built up on Bridgnorth Bridge in Low Town.
The Bridgnorth otter has gained notoriety in recent months, with photographers gathering to try and take a photo of it.
The creature has been spotted splashing about in the River Severn, close to Bridgnorth Bridge.
It is believed to have taken up home in the wood and debris that has built up a the bridge following heavy rain earlier this year.
The animal has been causing a splash with photographers in Bridgnorth, who have been unable to get a really good shot of the elusive animal on camera.
Shadow, as it has been dubbed because of its shy nature, has been spotted climbing over the branches that have built up by the bridge in Low Town and swimming in the waters of the Severn.
Last year two otters were seen in the same spot, and provided excellent photographs for local enthusiasts.
