Abandoned baby seal saved from death on Happisburgh beach

Tracey Kerr is a volunteer for the Happisburgh Coast Watch, and was shocked when a report came in that a seal pup had been stranded on the beach at Cart Gap.

Miss Kerr said, 'An elderly couple came in and said that there was a seal pup in distress on the beach. My boss was in at the time and said I'd better go and take a look.

'The seal was trying to get back into the sea but he just wasn't coping. He was getting tossed by the rocks so when he came back closer to the shore I waded out and got him.'

The mother-of-three continued: 'He was seriously malnourished. He hadn't eaten in a few days and there was no sign of his mum, if we'd left him there he would have died.

'We don't know what's happened to his mum, they could've been separated or she could've died, we just don't know.'

Miss Kerr named the seal pup Ben, after a gentleman who helped her transport the seal from the beach back to the coast guard hut.

'He's about four to six months old, and he didn't even try to bite me which you would expect, he just wiggled around a bit.' Miss Kerr added.

'I took him to the wonderful people at Wild Touch animal rescue in North Walsham. I understand now Ben is now in the Kings Lynn area being well looked after.'

Following reports that further abandoned seal pups could be found along the north Norfolk coast, Miss Kerr said: 'The most important thing if you see a baby seal is not to touch it. Do not approach it and don't handle it.

'This is because if it's mother still is about, she might reject it because it's been handled.'

She advised: 'What people should do is either go to the local coast watch station and tell them, or call the Seal Rescue Trust.'

To support the invaluable work of the Happisburgh Coast Watch, a family fun day has been arranged to raise funds for the organisation.

The fun day will take place on August 19, at Hill House Inn at Happisburgh.