Now here's something you don't see every day - two deer were spotted swimming across the River Tyne this morning (Sunday, May 28), with an early morning fisherman capturing the moment on camera.
The pair were seen crossing the water from Newcastle in the Benwell area over to Gateshead, climbing out on the bank near the Costco shopping warehouse. The breathtaking sight was caught by fisherman Michael Quayle, who was stationed on the bank of the Tyne when he stopped to witness the swim just after 6am.
"I immediately got my phone out and started to take a video of them," Michael, from Sunderland, told ChronicleLive. "They swam across to the south bank then made their way over the mud and up into the trees. It was an amazing sight."
Deer are known to be very strong swimmers and can even swim as far as 10 miles, meaning they can get across rivers and lakes with ease, according to WorldDeer. They can reach speeds of around 15 mph in the water, and usually swim in order to search for food or to keep safe from predators.
If you spot a deer swimming, in most cases you should leave them alone to make their journey - although it's an unusual sight, deer are usually more than capable of getting across the water with ease using their powerful legs to swim and their woolly undercoat to keep them warm. If you do spot one that you think may be in distress, it's still best to keep your distance and call local wildlife authorities - they will have the skills and equipment needed to come to the rescue if necessary.
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