On a bitterly cold February morning in Norwalk, Connecticut, a silent shape on the river ice caught someone’s eye. From a distance, the swan looked lifeless — head tucked, body motionless, surrounded by frozen water as temperatures hovered well below freezing.
Firefighters from the Norwalk Fire Department were called to the scene and quickly realized this was no simple rescue. Dressed in bulky cold‑water suits and roped together for safety, they edged their way out onto the frozen Norwalk River, unsure whether they were walking toward a body or a life they might still save.
When they got closer, a small movement changed everything. The swan lifted his head.
Photo Credit: Norwalk Fire Department
That flicker of life galvanized the entire team and the onlookers watching from the shore. Firefighters carefully worked their way to the bird and discovered why he couldn’t escape: his feet were frozen solid into the ice. For about 30 minutes, they chipped away around him and gently freed his legs, all while trying not to spook or injure him.
One firefighter later recalled telling his crew to “show him some love” so the swan would know they were there to help, not harm. Wrapped in blankets and cradled on a stretcher, the bird stayed remarkably calm as they carried him up a ladder and back to shore, then into a waiting vehicle.
From there, the swan — now affectionately nicknamed “Clancey” — was rushed to a veterinary emergency center, cold‑stunned and dehydrated but alive. Staff gently melted the ice from his feathers and skin, warmed his body, and gave him fluids. Within an hour, they said, he brightened noticeably and began to recover.
Veterinarians expect Clancey to make a full recovery, and once he regains his strength, he’ll be released back into his wild home.
Lady Freethinker applauds the observant citizens, determined firefighters, and compassionate veterinary professionals who were involved in Clancey’s rescue.
