A Confused Kangaroo
Not only were the beachgoers confused, but so was the kangaroo that went for a swim!
After hopping around and reaching the beach, the wild animal just went straight to the water, not knowing the danger he was putting itself too! People started to film and call 911, asking for help.
Placing A Blanket
The waves have brought the animal back to the shore, and the kangaroo was so exhausted that he just stayed on the beach, taking deep breaths.
The people that have seen the roo splashing about came with a blanket and covered the animal so that it won’t be scared and run into traffic…
It Jumped Back Into The Surf
It was almost 5 p.m. when police officers arrived to help, but the roo was now safe on the beach, ready to be taken to the wilderness.
When everyone thought that this was it, the roo regained its strength and went straight ahead for the water. The police officers were stunned, looking at the animal fighting with the waves!
Assisting The Animal
In a press release, Victoria Police stated: “The kangaroo had made it back to the beach upon arrival and had been covered in a blanket by a member of the public,”
Then, as the officers were monitoring and talking with the public, the kangaroo “decided to turn around and hop back into the surf,” added the statement.
He Was Exhausted
It was a normal day for Sergeant Christopher Russo and Senior Sergeant Kirby Tonkin, or so they thought… They arrived at the beach and saw the animal was being taken care of the residents.
Sgt Russo said that the kangaroo “He had already been in the water and was exhausted to the point he was lying down with members of the public.”
Police Officers Had To Swim To Him
“He regained some strength and stood up and we didn’t want him to go anywhere but he turned around and jumped straight into the water,” added Sgt Russo.
The animal was distressed and confused, so seeing that he was in danger again, the officers had to take off their uniforms and swim to get the kangaroo!
He Was Drowning
The press release from the police added that the animal “began to swim but got into difficulty in the swell and breaking waves and went underwater a couple of times.”
Sgt Russo also noticed as they got closer to the animal that there was foam coming out of its nose, meaning that he was nearly drowning…
They Grabbed Him
In an interview with The Herald Sun, Russo stated that they had no choice but to do this:
> “I grabbed his tail and Kirby cradled his head and dragged him onto the beach and cleared his lungs to get the water out of him.” They had no other option, but thankfully, their fast reaction saved the animal’s life.
First Aid
Russo said that as they started chest compressions, the roo’s breathing went back to normal, and he “could feel a heartbeat.”
The rescue was filmed by residents who witnessed the officers swimming to help the animal out of the waves. But that is not how the story ends!
An Amazing Rescue Mission
“It is always a good feeling, I know it’s a kangaroo but every life is worth saving and we just did what we could,” said Russo.
And grabbing the unconscious kangaroo from both ends to a blanket was the best decision they made that day! The kangaroo was alive, but it needed medical attention…
It Was Alive!
As soon as the kangaroo started breathing on its own, the crowd was finally happy that the animal was alive. The officers wrapped this adventurous fella in blankets, and they took it to a nearby police station!
The animal had no way to escape and fight the waves, as he was put in a cell!
Taken To The Station
This furry prisoner might not have broken the law, but he needed a place to stay calm, alone and safe from the beach. The police called a local wildlife center to come to assess the animal’s health.
Rosebud police also gave a heartwarming statement on the kangaroo’s welfare.
What Was Going To Happen?
Rosebud police updated the public, stating that “the roo is currently being cared for but is said to be in good spirits and lucky to be alive given the amount of salt water he inhaled, thanks to his rescuers.”
Mia Grant, the resident that took the footage of the events, is a McRae resident. This is her side of the story…
Saving The Day
Grant was going to get some shopping done when an animal bounced across the highway and got to the beach.
Then, she saw “him swimming and started filming but he suddenly got caught in the backwash of the waves so we got him out and waited for police.” But then the police came and saved the day!
Faith In Humanity Restored
Grant feared the worst, but the she saw the officers swimming towards the roo.
She admitted that “you see a lot of bad things and to see someone so instantaneously race in after an animal gives you faith in humanity.” What happened to the kangaroo after getting to the station?
Animalia Wildlife Center
The police asked Animalia Wildlife Shelter to come and check their “prisoner” and find him a better place, probably with a lake…
The director of the shelter, Michelle Thomas, said that many animals are scared by dirt bike activity in the nearby bushland and run confused to other places, like the beach…
The Roo Was Taken To The Vet
“They often head to the water and kangaroos are very good swimmers but not at a surf beach,” explained Thomas. She took the roo to their shelter and gave him water and an IV drip.
He was given antibiotics to treat the cuts and grazes on his feet and to keep pneumonia away after he swallowed so much water…
A Happy Roo
Thomas added that the roo is enjoying his new life and he will fully recover:
“We will let him recover at his own pace but he has a paddock full of grass and lots of water to drink and he seems very happy with that.” He is hopping around and eating, so that’s great news!
Animals Losing Their Territory
Unfortunately, animals on the peninsula are struggling, losing their land and koalas losing their gum trees because of the intense development near their territory.
She explains that the shelter treats at least a kangaroo a day, but she has never encountered such a situation!
Never Seen A Roo At The Beach
As for Sergeant Russo, he said he’s never rescued a roo before! Thomas added that they too have never heard about an encounter “at the beach in the water."
All’s well when it ends well! The roo has recovered and has been released back into the wild, where everyone hopes he will hop into calmer water!