Retired Fisher Saves Otter With Mouth-to-Mouth CPR

When locals heard what sounded like children crying near Alert Bay's dock on July 28, they discovered three young otters tangled in abandoned fishing nets.

Two pups were freed quickly and swam to their anxious mother waiting in the water below. The third otter lay motionless, a net wrapped tightly around its neck.

Gordon Mellish, a retired commercial fisher and carver, cut away the net but found the otter unresponsive. Without hesitation, he placed his mouth over the animal's small snout and began CPR.

Before approaching the otters, Mellish had rubbed fish oil on his hands so his scent would be familiar to the frightened animals. His commercial fishing background gave him the calm confidence needed for the delicate rescue.

The breath of life worked. After several compressions and breaths, the young otter began showing signs of consciousness.

Police arrived and contacted Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society, which transported the otter to their rehabilitation facility. Before the animal left, Mellish stroked its fur and whispered, "Get rest, get better, and make sure you make it back home."

Sunny's Take

A week of veterinary care later, the otter was ready for release. Mellish stood on the beach to see his friend off, and what happened next felt almost magical.

The otter waded halfway into the water, then turned back. She looked directly at Mellish, and according to him, nodded her head before swimming away to reunite with her family.

Alert Bay RCMP praised the community's quick thinking and teamwork in their press release. The officers noted how local residents demonstrated exactly how communities can protect wildlife when they work together.

The incident also sparked an important reminder from Sergeant David Ribeiro-Pereira about securing fishing gear properly. Cormorant Island is home to many wildlife species, and abandoned nets pose serious dangers to animals who call the area home.

For Mellish, the brief moment of eye contact with the recovering otter made everything worthwhile. "It was so neat to have that moment," he told Vancouver Sun about his final goodbye to the animal whose life he saved.

The mother otter never left the area while her baby recovered, a testament to the strong family bonds these animals share.