A kind wildlife rescuer cut a helpless bird free from being trapped in fruit netting.

Keith Porteous was called out to Coolum Beach, Australia, on October 15 to help a stressed Currawong trapped in the string over a blueberry bush.

Heartwarming footage shows Keith carefully wrap the bird up in a red blanket to subdue its frantic flapping as he located its stuck body part.

After quickly cutting the Currawong’s foot loose from the net, Keith checked it for any injuries before letting it safely fly off.

Keith said: “The Currawong was an adult female who had been stuck for around 45 minutes trying to get to the blueberry bush the netting was covering.

“They love fruit as well as insects, grubs, even baby birds and eggs.

“The bird had one foot badly entangled but as the netting wasn’t tight it wasn’t injured and I was able to release it after checking it over for claw grip and wing condition.

“This older netting is treacherous to wildlife. Animals are easily entangled in the large aperture and the netting is black and impossible for animals to see and avoid.

“Flying foxes in particular suffer horrific injuries from this product. I would ask people only use the new small 5mm mesh netting that is white and easily spotted by bats.

“I perform between up to 400 volunteer rescues a year. I love animals, especially the unique Australian wildlife, helping them gives me a sense of satisfaction, self worth and inner peace.

“They need the help as the reduction of their habitat causes so many problems for them.”