As she watched a severely injured wallaby drowning in the surf at Logans Beach on Sunday morning, wildlife rescuer Val Carter momentarily gave up hope of reaching the distressed animal.
Create a free account to read this article
or signup to continue reading
Moments later, a stranger named Andrew appeared beside her and asked, “what can I do to help?”
With the assistance of people who had been visiting the whale-viewing platform, Ms Carter and fellow Warrnambool Wildlife Rescue Group volunteer Erin Gundry managed to get the wallaby, weighing about 50 kilograms, back onto the sand and up the steps to the car park, and eventually to the vet.
All up, four people – including two visitors from Melbourne, and one from Ballarat – jumped in to assist, while a crowd at the whale-viewing platform watched the scene unfold.
“Without those four people, no doubt we would have been in a lot of trouble and without having any reception on the beach – that was a real concern,” Ms Carter said.
“I did yell out to a lot of people up the top if anyone could give a hand.”
Ms Carter could not assist the wallaby on her own in part due to the strong undertow, and Ms Gundry started suffering an asthma attack.
One of the strangers who jumped in to assist with the rescue raced back to the car park for an asthma puffer.
Ms Carter has responded to at least 1000 calls for help as a wildlife rescuer, but she said the Sunday’s rescue was one of the worst she had been to.
She described the people who helped as “marvellous”.
At the vet, the native animal had to be euthanised due to its extensive injuries, which the vet said were caused by at least one dog.
The wallaby had severe injuries around its groin, neck and head, and had been found in the sand dunes but entered the water in fear.
The experienced rescuer said it was a common occurrence, and dog owners should take more responsibility for their pets.
“We can guarantee without fail every holidays we respond to an animal that has been chased into the surf,” she said.
“If people are coming down here to appreciate the sights, think of our native wildlife. Think ahead and please keep your dog on a lead or keep it under control. It’s not that much to ask.”
Ms Carter said council should consider making off-lead beaches lead only to protect native wildlife.
