An Army crew competing in a race around Britain and Ireland rescued a barn owl 70 miles off the coast of Newcastle. The bird, later named Little Reg, was spotted flying above the boat before attempting to land several times and falling into the sea.
The exhausted owl eventually collapsed on the boat deck and was taken in by the soldiers. After 24 hours with the crew, the Caister Independent lifeboat met the soldiers off the Norfolk coast to transport Little Reg to shore.
Dan Goldsmith of the Marine and Wildlife Rescue stated that Little Reg would be assessed by a vet at East Winch Wildlife Centre in King's Lynn. He expressed hope that the owl would make a full recovery and be returned to the wild as soon as possible, noting that barn owls should not typically be so far out at sea.