Oak Lawn Cop and Neighbors Rescue 8 Ducklings from Sewer

An Oak Lawn police officer and neighbors work fervently to rescue eight baby ducks that fell into a sewer on Sunday afternoon.

OAK LAWN, IL -- A kindhearted Oak Lawn police officer and several neighbors rescued eight ducklings from a sewer on Sunday afternoon.

Resident Patty Shafer reports that mama duck was walking her brood near Cook Street and 99th Street when the ducklings disappeared down the sewer grating around 12:30 p.m.

Officer Carroll and residents rescue eight ducklings from a sewer.

“The kids could hear them swimming back and forth in the sewer,” Shafer said. “I came out in the middle of the rescue."

A few of Shafer’s neighbors tossed down bread crumbs so the baby ducks would swim toward the middle of the sewer where they could be rescued.

• Also on Patch: 'Make Way for (Jumping) Ducklings': Video

Oak Lawn Police Officer Robert Carroll and Shafer’s neighbors donned gloves and began fishing the ducklings out of the sewer.

“My neighbor brought a box and two pool skimmers,” Shafer said. “They sort of chop-sticked them out.”

Shafer caught part of the dramatic duckling sewer rescue on video.

After the eight ducklings were saved, Shafer’s neighbor brought the babies over to their visibly upset mother and put the box on its side.

“The mother duck huddled them together and herded them over to a bush,” Shafer said.

When the rescue mission was completed, Officer Carroll bid adieu and drove off to respond to another call.

“He was all business,” Shafer said.

(Video and photos via Patty Shafer)