WATCH: Warner Beach rescuer comes to feathered friend’s aid
Birds in distress aren't the only call Tessa responds to. When a boat capsized at Warnadoone Beach some two months ago Tessa performed life-saving CPR on one of the patients.
LOCAL wonderwoman, Tessa MacInnes dived into the icy ocean to save a drowning juvenile oyster catcher on Wednesday, 11 October, even though she herself could not swim.
The rare species of bird received much-needed love and care and was released back to its parents that afternoon.
Tessa and close friend Carol Lane were walking along the Warner-Chain Rocks stretch of beach when they spotted a black bird with a bright orange beak, the oyster catcher, flapping around irregularly in the shorebreak. The bird was clearly in need of help.
Downing her jacket and belongings, she dived into the storm-ravaged sea to rescue the bird.
Watch Tessa saving the juvenile, video by Carol Lane:
“The bird was clearly a juvenile,” said Tessa. “From what I gather, it had washed up the coast from Warnadoone Beach. I think the rough sea just got the better of its inexperience.”
Tessa explained that on rescuing the bird, she kept it warm against her body, feeding it glucose water for shock. “I then wrapped it loosely in a warmed up towel to gets its body temperature up,” she explained. “The bird was ice cold and not responding to me (not objecting to touch). It was very weak after being rolled and tossed along the stretch of coastline. I kept it warm until that afternoon, and once I had checked it could fly – and it started to nip at me – I knew it was recovering.”
Tessa inspected the bird’s wings and loosened the sand clinging to it. She then returned to the Warnadoone Ski Boat Club and released the juvenile, ensuring it flew off safely.
Watch the beautiful release, video by Carol Lane:
“I wanted to release it as soon as possible because of the distress the parents were going through,” she said. “We have seen it since with the parents. I spot its scruffy tail a mile off.”
Tessa has cared for birds from a young age. Her mom was passionate about bird rescue, and Tessa possesses the same passion. “My daughter, Tyler (19) is also very compassionate towards animal and bird rescue,” she said.
Birds in distress aren’t the only call Tessa responds to. When a boat capsized at Warnadoone Beach some two months ago Tessa performed life-saving CPR on one of the patients.
“Guilty as charged – I seem to be making a point of rescuing all sorts on the beach,” she said. “I don’t have lifesaving experience, but am a certified first aider. I suppose my instincts kicked in. By nature I seem to jump in feet first when I see someone in distress, and that is what I did.”
Read about the flipped boat: Six fishermen saved in heroic rescue at Doonside Beach
Read about the close friend’s high praise for Tessa in this week’s edition of the South Coast Sun.
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