So Fuhrman volunteered to go over the top on his own.
He was backed up by the fire department s crew on the mile-long bridge, from its swift water rescue members below and through drone footage provided by department member Jordan Newell. There s something or someone in distress that needs help. . This is what we live to do outside of our day jobs, Newell said. You can t let the bird suffer and die, Fuhrman said, simply enough.
But, again, he had never handled a panicked raptor, one powerful enough to fly up to 80 mph.
When he finally reached the bird it speared its talons through his rope bag. He had hoped to slowly lower it to safety below, but when he cut the line it immediately untangled from the bird s right wing.