WATERFOWL wardens in Dawlish are hoping to thank a mystery man who helped rescue the new brood of Black Swan cygnets.

Known only as John, the wardens have put out an appeal to thank him for his efforts.

John was the first to arrive when the five cygnets were in distress

The days old cygnets had become trapped on the lower weir and were unable to scramble to safety.

A member of the public, now known to be John, was said to have initially waded unto the water to try to help the cygnets when they found themselves further down the Brook and unable to get back.

The wardens said: ‘We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to a member of the community named John.

‘We don't know much about him, but apparently he was the first person to arrive, before our Waterfowl Warden, when the cygnets were in distress and he was able to save them and bring them away from the storm gates.

‘If you know John please thank him for us and let him know that we are all so thankful for his actions.’

The cygnets had strayed down the wier and became trapped, unable to scramble back to safety and were in danger of being washed out to sea.

‘John’ is said to have returned the cygnets to the other side of the weir but had to remove them from the water before trying to coax the parents back up the waterway.

Dawlish waterfowl wardens then arrived on the scene and were able to save all five cygnets by scooping them up and returning them to a calmer area of the Brook.

Parents Kimba and Bert and their five new offspring were eventually returned to rest safely at Tuck’s Plot near Jubilee Bridge.

There have been reports of further similar incidents.

Sally Thompson said she saw the cygnets become stuck near the metal grille at the bottom of the Brook on two other occasions.

Both times members of the public were said to have been able to help them back up the Brook.

Sally is asking whether a block could be place as the Brook goes out to sea or move the swans until they have grown stronger.

She said: ‘It was so upsetting to see them nearly swept away.

‘The swans are a protected species in the UK.

‘The cygnets could be put in pens until bigger.

‘Maybe a large pen with pool for parents and cygnets until cygnets are much stronger and less likely to lose their way.’

Newly-hatched cygnets can often end up in trouble.

A year ago, two town councillors donned waders to help one cygnet that had ended up the wrong side of the Viaduct.

And in 2023, contractors from BAM Nuttall, working on the new Dawlish sea wall, stepped in to rescue cygnets who were almost washed out to sea.

The engineers managed to scoop them up in a bucket.

Dawlish Town Council then replaced wier gates at the bottom of the Brook.