A MEMBER of the public swam out to rescue a drowning young seagull which was struggling to stay afloat.

The bird had fishing line wrapped around its wing and legs when it was spotted struggling in the water.

It was also trailing a large amount of rigging consisting of 15 hooks of various different sizes and barbs.

A worried onlooker phoned East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service (WRAS) to report the incident before taking it upon themselves to swim out to sea to its aid.

When the rescue team arrived at Sovereign Harbour in Eastbourne, its rescue nets couldn't reach the bird.

Fortunately, the swimmer was able to bring it to shore.

The gull was unable to fly or even get out of the water when it was reached.

East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service (WRAS) rescuer Jen Holloway said: “It could barely hold its head up when we arrived and it quickly became clear that our rescue nets couldn't reach the bird.

“Our boat was too far away to be of assistance quickly enough.”

The gull was taken to a vet where the hooks were safely removed and its wounds treated.

The charity thanked the rescuer for helping to save the bird’s life.

Seagulls have been making the headlines in recent weeks following several dog attacks by the gulls in Devon.

In May, a pet owner was left distraught after her beloved chihuahua was killed in Honiton, Devon.

Then in July, an eight-year-old Yorkshire terrier was pecked to death near Newquay in Cornwall.

Weeks later, seagulls swooped on a tortoise followed by a four-year-old boy from St Ives, Cornwall, who almost lost a finger.

Prime Minister David Cameron responded to the attacks saying a "big conversation" was to be had, sparking a debate on whether or not there should be a cull.

Europe's leading authority on seagulls hit out in The Argus this week claiming seagulls were simply misunderstood.

Peter Rock, who has been studying herring gulls since 1980, said: "Urban gulls are not understood at all. They are not thugs. They do whatever they can to avoid physical conflict."