Guangyuan, Sichuan — A heron was left dangling midair after its wing became tightly entangled in fishing line while hunting for fish.

Firefighters arrived to find the line deeply cutting into the bird’s wing. Even the slightest mistake could have caused further injury.

One firefighter calmly reassured the bird, saying, “Don’t be afraid, it’ll be over soon.” With careful hands, the team spent 20 minutes untangling the fishing line to free the struggling heron.

The moment its wings stretched open, the heron flapped and soared into the sky. The firefighter’s smile shone brighter than the sun.

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