North Sea oil rig workers rescue owl blown out to sea during Storm Amy

A short-haired owl, which found itself stuck on an oil rig after being blown off course during Storm Amy, is being looked after by animal rescuers.

The bird landed on the Noble Patriot, 180 miles east of Shetland, in a state of exhaustion after battling the strong winds.

The bird was looked after by platform workers before being flown by helicopter into Sumburgh airport on Friday morning.

Hillswick Wildlife Sanctuary

It was then picked up by the Hillswick Wildlife Sanctuary in Shetland and taken to a local vet.

The bird was found to be in good shape but underweight.

Hillswick Wildlife Sanctuary

The charity said the owl has now been taken to stay with a local ornithologist to be “fattened up” before being released back into the wild.

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