Seal rescued by RSPCA after swimming into Wylfa power station

Jun 17 2010
by Andrew Gilpin,
Daily Post

AFTER going fishing, this plucky seal nearly went fission.

The adult male slipped through bars at the end of a sea pipe and entered a cooling chamber at Anglesey’s Wylfa nuclear power station.

Staff called in RSPCA Cymru experts who lifted the visitor into a basket and returned him to the sea further along the coast at Cemlyn Bay. The rare incident happened at the power station on Wednesday.

Wylfa spokeswoman Lowri Jones said: “Seals can be vicious in these circumstances and he may have been a little bit angry.

“But he was completely unharmed with no radiological effects. These incidents are very rare. The last one was early last year.”

RSPCA Cymru said the mammal was dragged along by the strong currents created by the power station.

The hapless seal found himself in a large watery chamber with no means of escape.

RSPCA animal welfare officer Mark Roberts said: “This kind of rescue happens from time to time and we’re grateful for the vigilance of power station staff.

“Due to the size and nature of the building, this kind of rescue is always a challenge.”

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