Overview
- A herring gull became lodged in the front grille of a Ford Focus after being struck on the A1(M) between Newton Aycliffe and Darlington and was discovered at Darlington train station.
- The car owner did not notice the bird until someone alerted them by message, prompting contact with Darlington Bird Rescue.
- Rescuers extracted the gull, nicknamed 'Lucky', and took it to their centre for pain relief, monitoring, and rehabilitation.
- Staff reported no broken bones, only scrapes, damaged feathers and soreness in the bird's back, and said it is expected to be released once recovered.
- The Ford Focus suffered only minor grille damage, and local rescuers used social media to coordinate the unexpected rescue on a day when the charity was closed.