Henrico firefighters rescue stranded duck

HENRICO, VA (WWBT) - A Henrico Fire Department water rescue team had a change of plans Wednesday, when it was called away from a training exercise to rescue a stranded duck from a pond.

Fire units were called around 12:45 Wednesday to a retention pond near Virginia Center Commons, where they found a duck who appeared to be in distress on the pond. Authorities said two team members put on ice rescue survival suits and paddled out on the pond to retrieve the duck. After rescuing the duck, the team took it to a local veterinarian for evaluation. Authorities said the duck was doing well.

Capt. Daniel Rosenbaum, spokesman for the fire department, said, "This situation gave the team a great opportunity to practice with equipment and skills that are not used that often." Rosenbaum said the person who first called 911 about the duck was concerned because bystanders were planning to rescue the duck themselves.

According to a local business, the duck has been at the pond for years, Rosenbaum said.

Copyright 2015 WWBT NBC12. All rights reserved.