Swan rescued after getting stuck in frozen lake

Onlookers cheered as firefighters brought stricken bird to safety

Firefighters waded around 60ft through the icy loch to rescue the swan (June Murphy)

Firefighters freed a swan from a frozen lake in a Glasgow park over the weekend.

The bird was trapped in Hogganfield loch after a plunge in temperature froze lakes and ponds around the region.

Emergency services were alerted after members of the public spotted the stuck swan on Saturday afternoon.

Crews from Scottish Fire and Rescue arrived with special equipment to safely wade through the chilly waters.

Footage from the scene shows the firefighters slowly breaking through the ice to reach the distressed swan. 

Onlookers watched on with concern before cheering as the bird was brought to safety.

Firefighters transferred the swan into the care of the Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) before leaving about 90 minutes after they were first alerted, the brigade said.

“Operations control mobilised two appliance and two water rescue units to the scene and trained firefighters reached the swan, 20 metres from the shoreline, and transferred it to the care of Scottish SPCA partners," Scottish Fire and Rescue said.

“Two crews, from the city’s Polmadie and Knightswood fire stations, left the scene shortly afterwards at 3:21pm."

Glasgow, along with most of Scotland, was gripped sub-zero temperatures as the New Year began, prompting warnings over dangerous ice.