There are fears that a young swan could be in trouble after being ‘kidnapped’ from Mousehold Heath as a rescuer was just seconds away. 

Kevin Murphy from Norfolk Wildlife Rescue was called to Mousehold Lane near Gurney Road at 10.30am today to collect the rogue bird.

It was an unusual sighting for the area as it is not very close to water, leaving surprised drivers to be wary as they approached the busy traffic lights outside Open Academy.

Norwich Evening News: A member of the public stayed near to the swan in the hope of keeping it out of the road A member of the public stayed near to the swan in the hope of keeping it out of the road (Image: Norfolk Wildlife Rescue)

It is thought the young swan may have mistaken wet roads for a river.

Thwarted rescuer Kevin said: “The swan was unable to take off as it needed a long stretch of water. 

“The person who called me was worried it would go into the road.” 

The area gets very busy and has multiple lanes of traffic along a 40mph road so Kevin needed to act fast. 

Unfortunately, the spooked swan did cross the road and was near the traffic lights at Homebase when Kevin was on his way to pick it up. 

Norwich Evening News: There is lots of fast moving traffic in the area There is lots of fast moving traffic in the area (Image: Google Maps)

He has been named locally as Onel Swanandez, after popular Norwich City winger Onel Hernandez. 

The flying Cuban is known for his darting runs for the Canaries and for his love of Argos, so it’s thought Swanandez may have confused Homebase for the rival retail chain. 

Kevin said: “I was literally seconds away from rescuing the swan when he was kidnapped. 

“A bystander told me that a woman stopped her car and said she had experience with swans, then just put it in her car and left.”

Norwich Evening News: The rescue founder is becoming increasingly more concerned about SwanandezThe rescue founder is becoming increasingly more concerned about Swanandez (Image: Submitted)

The founder of Norfolk Wildlife Rescue has been trying to contact other rescues and veterinary practices to locate the swan and is growing very concerned for the welfare of Swanandez.

He said: “I have no idea what injuries the swan has, if any, or if they are being treated correctly. 

“I don’t know if they are being fed properly.” 

Though Kevin seems most concerned about what the ‘kidnapper’ plans on doing with the swan. 

Norwich Evening News: Kevin Murphy was just seconds away form the traffic lights when Swanandez was kidnapped Kevin Murphy was just seconds away form the traffic lights when Swanandez was kidnapped (Image: Google Maps)

He said: “I am worried it will be released into another swan’s territory. 

“I don’t know what stress he is under but I don’t understand why anyone would pick a swan off the road when someone is standing next to it waiting for a rescue which has already been contacted.”