Last week the Independent was contacted by resident Charles Nelson who wanted to hand over a picture to a “stranger” who he snapped saving a pelican’s life.
He’s a stranger no longer, but better known as resident Steve Robb, aka ‘Storm Man’, who contacted the Independent after seeing his photo in the paper.
He is dubbed as such after the movie Storm Boy — just a more grown up version, he said.
In fact, he has saved about 30 of the birds to date.
A few years ago Charles was walking up to the fish cleaning table near the Fishing Co-op in Port Macquarie when he noticed a large pelican with a fishing lure caught in the bottom of its foot.
“The treble hook was under the web, causing obvious pain and disability,” he said.
“A bystander tackled the pelican on the boat ramp and managed to hold him and remove the hook from the foot of the bird.
“He seemed to know what he was doing, and I was very impressed with his effort.
“Luckily I had my camera and was able to snap this photo.”
Recently he was working on old photos and decided “to see if I could find him to give him a copy [of the photo].”
So Charles contacted us.
Soon after the Independent was out, Steve contacted the paper via email to identify himself.
“The picture in your local news section if of me (Steve Robb),” he wrote.
“I regularly caught these birds when returning from fishing from sea when I saw them with hooks, etc, dangling from them.
“The trick is to throw bait in the air. They look up, then you pounce and secure them.
“You can inform Charles he can contact me if he wants.”
The Independent office is in William St, Port Macquarie or call 6583 9088, or email Newsdesk@portmacquarieindependent.com.au
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