A bald eagle died from its injuries after it was rescued from the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia.
SkyForce10 captured the scene late Wednesday afternoon as the injured eagle was on top of debris and wood in the river off Kelly Drive and near Boathouse Row. The eagle was suffering from fractured wings and a fractured sternum.
With onlookers by their side, workers with the Philadelphia Metro Wildlife Center tried using nets to bring the eagle to safety but the debris was an issue. One of the workers, Ben Coleman, then went into the shallow water and grabbed the bird by its legs. Another man leaned over the edge to help.
"Not an experience I wanted to have voluntarily in the Schuylkill, but it was well worth it to save our wild neighbors," Coleman said.
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The rescuers placed the eagle in a box and brought the bird to a facility in Norristown for emergency surgery. Unfortunately, the eagle died from its injuries.
Officials have not yet determined how the eagle ended up in the river though rescuers speculate it was hit by a car.
In Pennsylvania, bald eagles are protected under the Game and Wildlife Code.
