Swan found on Norfolk Broads with fishing hook in spine

Volunteers from PACT Animal Sanctuary, based near Hingham, found the young bird with the sharp equipment stuck in its back in Wroxham.

Upon further inspection, it was concluded that the hook had been purposefully pushed deep into its skin.

An x-ray of the fishing hook (Image: PACT)

A spokeswoman for PACT called it an "incredibly sad display of how people mistreat wildlife" and that the incident "definitely did not happen by accident".

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The swan was attended to by rescuers after they noticed it writhing in pain which then led them to discover a wound on its back.

The hook after it had been removed (Image: PACT)

An x-ray showed the dangerous object stuck in its spine which was then removed carefully by vets.

He was kept at the sanctuary while he recovered and was eventually released back into the wild.