For several minutes he struggled against the water of the Naviglio Grande, pushed by the current and unable to reach the shore. A young fawn, visibly terrified, risked drowning in the late afternoon of Tuesday 26 May in Corsico, in the Milan area, under the incredulous eyes of residents and passers-by.
The alarm was triggered after phone calls from some citizens to the operations center of the Local Police, who reported the presence of the animal in serious difficulty inside the canal. The small ungulate was floundering for tens of meters, dragged by the water without being able to find a hold to save himself.
The agents dive without wasting a second
When the patrol arrived at Via Vittorio Emanuele II, on the border with Via Milano, the situation immediately appeared critical. And at that point there was no room for hesitation. Deputy commissioner Salvatore Ciotta and agent Diana Bella launched themselves directly into the Naviglio to reach the fawn before the current dragged it even further away.
A delicate and risky operation, made even more complicated by the fear of the animal, which continued to move frantically in the water. The experience of deputy commissioner Ciotta as a diver was decisive, as he managed to get close to the puppy and block it without injuring it. Agent Bella collaborated in the recovery operations, while a passerby also stopped to support the two operators.
The rescue amidst the applause of those present
A few minutes later the Fire Brigade and the specialized provincial unit also arrived and completed the recovery of the animal amidst the applause of the people gathered along the Naviglio. The scene attracted dozens of curious people: many followed the operations with bated breath from the shore, observing the exhausted but still alive fawn as it was finally brought to safety.
The animal was then entrusted to the veterinarians for all the necessary health checks. Fortunately his condition was good: he was very tired and scared, but without serious injuries. After the checks it will be released into a suitable natural habitat.
An intervention that avoided a tragic ending
Behind the immediate gesture of Deputy Commissioner Ciotta there would also be a recent event. Only a few days ago, in fact, the same officer intervened to try to save another animal that had fallen into the Naviglio, but in that case the recovery was not successful.
Precisely that precedent would have pushed the officers to enter the water immediately this time, without waiting for further reinforcements. A decision taken in a few moments which avoided a dramatic epilogue. And so, on an ordinary day at the end of May, the Naviglio di Corsico was suddenly transformed into the theater of a race against time with the ending which, this time, had the flavor of relief.
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