Milo was rescued on 30th March 2010
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Scientists working on a tiny island in the North Sea abandoned their research to help save the life of an injured and struggling seal pup.
David Livingstone and Ian Greatbatch from Kingston University were working on Scolt Head Island six miles out from Wells-Next-The-Sea in Norfolk.
Together with Claire Mellish from The Natural History Museum, they were studying the formation of 'spits.'
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Their research was put on hold, however, when they realised that the pup, since christened Milo, was stranded unable to move on an offshore sandbank which would soon be swallowed by a ferocious spring tide.
They soon found themselves involved in a desperate race against time and tide to get Milo to the Hunstanton Sea Life Sanctuary where he could receive the urgent medical care he clearly needed.
"He was lying belly up on the sandbank and was clearly in trouble," said David. "The sea was rough that day and waves were crashing in, yet he wasn't making any moves to escape to safety.
"Claire, Ian and I made a stretcher from a tarpaulin and an old fish crate. Luckily I had my waders on and was able to make my way out to Milo through the rising water between the sandbank and the beach."
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"Sometimes, when a seal pup is alone, the mother may simply be away catching food," said seal expert Kieran Copeland, from the Sea Life Sanctuary.
"In this case though the three scientists could clearly see that Milo was in real trouble, and their intervention saved his life."
Once they got him back to the main beach they found he had a bloodied mouth and nose and wounds to both his head and his flippers.
That was when they called the Sanctuary and the rescue mission was triggered, beginning with them having to carry the heavy pup across the dunes to the nearest boat mooring point…before the rising tide made this impossible.
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David and Ian fetched Kieran in their dinghy while Claire stayed with Milo. They made it back just before nightfall and Kieran helped get Milo on board.
The spring tide that washed them back to the mainland was so high, they were able to take their dinghy direct to the Sanctuary rescue vehicle - by this time sitting in several inches of water in a flooded car park.
Once in the Sanctuary seal hospital Milo was treated for his injuries and is already a lot perkier.
David, Claire and Ian, meanwhile, feel such a bond with him that they have decided to officially adopt him and thereby contribute towards his care and treatment.
If all goes well, Milo will move out into a convalescence pool in a couple of weeks where he will gradually build strength and stamina and put on weight in readiness to go back to the wild...probably in later summer, early autumn.
"The three scientists will certainly be very welcome to come and watch the seal they helped save swim back to freedom," said Kieran.
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Update: 13th May 2009 - Milo now weighs 26kg, she was only around 21kg when she arrived and should have been approximately 35-40kg at her age. The good news is that Milo is now putting on weight.
All her treatments have finished and she is now totally clear of worms and the wound on her front flipper
is healing very nicely. Click here to see a photo collage of Milo. | 
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|  | Update: 25th July 2010 - This photo of Milo was taken on 23rd July 2010 in the outside seal pool with the resident seals, Sally, Amber and Tyne, and learning to compete for his fish. Milo will be released back into the wild in the next 4 weeks.
Milo's flipper tag number is 01. The flipper tags for common seal pups for 2010 are light blue.
Click here to see a photo collage of Milo.
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Update: 24th August 2010 - Milo is now in the outdoor pool with our resident seals, Sally, Amber and Tyne. The wounds that Milo suffered to her flippers are completely healed.
Milo has now reached her target weight of 30 kilos and is ready to be released back into the wild.
We are presently finalising her release details and will update you again as soon as we are able to confirm the time and date.
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 | Update: 30th September 2010 - Milo was released back into the wild on Monday 13th September 2010.
We teamed up with Searles Sea Tours and took Milo out to the colony of seals that can be found living on Seal Island in the Wash. Click here to read more.
This photo was taken by Paul Hobson, the professional wildlife photographer.
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Help Us to Help Them.....Each pup can cost up to £1,000 to rehabilitate, if you would like to adopt a pup
or make a donation towards a pup´s rehabilitation, please Click here for more details.
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