Seal pup with plastic sheet wrapped around neck rescued near Whitley Bay

The seal pup had to be cut free by volunteers, as it was unable to free itself from the plastic sheet around its neck. Credit: Vicki Sinclair / Newbiggin-by-the-Sea Dolphin Watch

A "lucky" seal pup spotted near Whitley Bay, has been freed from a plastic sheet caught around its neck.

Vicki Sinclair spotted the seal on the rocks at St Mary's Island on Wednesday 20 April, while watching wildlife at the coast with the Newbiggin-by-the-Sea dolphin watch group.

Worried about the seal, Vicki contacted the British Diving Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR)

Vicki returned the following day (21 April) to check how the pup was doing.

The seal pup was unable to free itself from the plastic sheet so the British Divers Marine Life Rescue Group were called Credit: Vicki Sinclair/ Newbiggin-by-the-Sea dolphin watch

St Mary's Island Wildlife Conservation Society were also made aware of the struggling seal - which was unable to free itself from the plastic litter.

Paul, a volunteer for the BDMLR freed the seal by cutting the plastic from around its neck. It is thought the sheet was a tarpaulin.

Paul says the plastic is a piece of tarpaulin Credit: Vicki Sinclair/ Newbiggin-by-the-Sea dolphin watch

They said the animal was lucky to be swimming away unscathed.

The BDMLR said "It is really important that people take rubbish home, [and] not dump plastic in the sea."

If people spot a seal they are worried about, they should not approach it and should call the BDMLR to help.

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