Heroic Grandpa Saves Bald Eagle from Alligator-Infested Waters!

Quick Smiles:

• Doug Hay, a nearly 70-year-old from Lakewood Ranch, rescued a drowning bald eagle.
• Ignoring the presence of a seven-foot alligator, Hay swam to save the bird.
• The eagle is now recovering and will receive therapy to fly again.

In a remarkable act of courage, Doug Hay from Lakewood Ranch demonstrated what it truly means to prioritize the nation’s symbol by saving an injured bald eagle from a Florida lake on April 19.

Despite being almost 70, Hay didn’t hesitate when he saw the bird in distress.

The incident unfolded when Doug and his wife heard a loud noise from their living room.

They quickly discovered an eagle had fallen into the lake behind their house and was struggling to stay afloat.

Being an animal lover, Hay realized the bird was unable to swim.

He also noticed another eagle circling above, suspecting the two had been in a mid-air tussle.

“They had like a mid-air fight and one of them got the worst of it and ended up crashed into the lake,” Hay recounted.

Without wasting a moment, Hay removed his shirt and shoes, tossed aside his phone, and dove into the water.

His wife captured the entire rescue on film.

The video shows Hay swimming to the shore, gently pulling the eagle along with him.

The bird appeared to be in shock.

Hay was aware of a seven-foot alligator residing in the lake, making the rescue a race against time.

However, he was not overly concerned about the alligator.

His sole focus was on saving the bird, which has symbolized the nation since 1782.

The daring rescue did leave Hay with minor injuries from the eagle’s talons.

The injured bird was later taken to the Wildlife Center of Southwest Florida.

There, it is recovering from a wound near its thoracic cavity and will soon undergo physical therapy to regain its ability to fly.

Reflecting on the rescue, Hay expressed no regrets.

“I just wanted to get the eagle to save it because it’s our national symbol. It’s freedom. It’s America, ya know?”

Source