A tiny pigeon was given a second chance at life after compassionate firefighters stopped to treat the bird with an oxygen mask following a vehicle blaze.
The heartwarming rescue happened after Engine 29 from the Oakland Fire Department responded to a burning vehicle in East Oakland.
Once crews had brought the flames under control, firefighters spotted an unexpected visitor waddling towards them.
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The pigeon appeared to be struggling after likely inhaling smoke from the fire.
Instead of flying away, the bird approached the crew, who gently held a small oxygen mask over its beak to help it breathe.
After a few moments receiving fresh oxygen, the pigeon began to recover, as reported by Whats The Jam.
Moments later, it flapped its wings and flew away, apparently none the worse for its ordeal.
The touching rescue was shared by Oakland firefighters on social media, where the clip has racked up more than seven million views.
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Viewers were quick to praise the firefighters for taking time to save such a small creature.
One person wrote: “This is making me cry.”
Another said: “This is SO wonderful!”
A third commented: “Yes this is exactly how we should be treating our pigeon friends.”
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Facebook’s official account also joined in, writing: “Carefully, he’s a hero.”
Another popular comment read: “Yet another example of why there’s no songs about healthcare, just firefighters.”
The clip has been widely shared online, with thousands applauding the firefighters for showing that every life, no matter how small, is worth saving.
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