Tourists shocked after kangaroo topples over sea wall

Tourists sheltering from a sudden downpour had their spirits buoyed by what can only described as an "iconic" Aussie moment — a kangaroo hopping along the boardwalk towards the beach. Moments later disaster struck.

What happened next on Sunday morning left the group of onlookers shocked. The animal suddenly toppled underneath a seawall and disappeared.

The western grey had fallen victim to a freak accident, falling between a narrow gap between two of the massive boulders at Busselton, an iconic beachside town on Australia’s westernmost tip. But while the event might sound like it would have a tragic end, the kangaroo was lucky the tourists were there to witness it.

“If they hadn’t seen it, no one ever would have found it.” That's the assessment of FAWNA wildlife rescue volunteer Sue McGann who received a call from two visitors to the beach who witnessed the roo fall.

The frightened roo was too deep to be reached, video shows it barely visible behind a maze of rocks. It sits there quietly out of view, the only audible sound is that of the ocean.

Good news for roo after shock fall

While the callers originally thought the roo was a joey, it turned out to be fully grown. Trying to prize out the animal would have been dangerous for both the roo and rescuers. After being frightened by humans, dogs or other predators, Australia’s macropods frequently suffer from a muscle-destroying disease called myopathy.

To help reduce stress, an experienced animal darter was called in to sedate the animal. An hour after the rescue team was called in, they were able to pull it free. “We managed to grab it by its tail and gently try and wiggle it to get it out,” McGann said.

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While a little blood was found on its paws from scraping against the rocks, the team was buoyed to discover the roo was largely uninjured.

The roo was transferred to a shelter for observation and is expected to be released. Anyone wishing to donate to FAWNA’s volunteers can do so here.

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