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| 'Medical miracle' sea eagle found dead on Isle of Mull | 'Medical miracle' sea eagle found dead on Isle of Mull |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A young sea eagle described by wildlife experts as "a medical miracle" has been found dead on the Isle of Mull. | A young sea eagle described by wildlife experts as "a medical miracle" has been found dead on the Isle of Mull. |
| The body of the four-year-old male, known as Kellan, was discovered by a hillwalker over the festive period. | The body of the four-year-old male, known as Kellan, was discovered by a hillwalker over the festive period. |
| Kellan was rescued by RSPB Scotland in 2010 after breaking his wing and leg. He was nursed back to health by the Scottish SPCA and returned to the wild. | Kellan was rescued by RSPB Scotland in 2010 after breaking his wing and leg. He was nursed back to health by the Scottish SPCA and returned to the wild. |
| It is not known how the bird died but it is thought he may have been involved in a fight with an adult sea eagle. | It is not known how the bird died but it is thought he may have been involved in a fight with an adult sea eagle. |
| Kellan was hatched at a nest on the island - known to millions of Springwatch viewers as Eagle Island - in 2010. | Kellan was hatched at a nest on the island - known to millions of Springwatch viewers as Eagle Island - in 2010. |
| He took his first flight during the summer but within a few weeks was found on the ground, badly injured. | He took his first flight during the summer but within a few weeks was found on the ground, badly injured. |
| RSPB Mull officer, Dave Sexton, who first rescued Kellan, said he was "heartbroken" to hear he had died. | RSPB Mull officer, Dave Sexton, who first rescued Kellan, said he was "heartbroken" to hear he had died. |
| 'Defiant fighter' | 'Defiant fighter' |
| "You're not meant to have favourites in this job but he was mine. He was a medical miracle as his injuries were so severe and we sometimes wondered if he would survive for long." | "You're not meant to have favourites in this job but he was mine. He was a medical miracle as his injuries were so severe and we sometimes wondered if he would survive for long." |
| Mr Sexton said Kellan made "medical history" as he was "rebuilt" by the Scottish SPCA. | Mr Sexton said Kellan made "medical history" as he was "rebuilt" by the Scottish SPCA. |
| "He was defiant and a fighter and he deserved his second chance back in the wild, where he belonged. | "He was defiant and a fighter and he deserved his second chance back in the wild, where he belonged. |
| "I last saw him alive in 2013 and immediately knew it was him as he had quite a distinctive flight profile with his once broken wing held at a slightly different angle. | "I last saw him alive in 2013 and immediately knew it was him as he had quite a distinctive flight profile with his once broken wing held at a slightly different angle. |
| "It was hard to spot but I knew him so well and I was just thrilled he was still going strong. He took off and soared up above my head before flying away over a distant mountain ridge." | "It was hard to spot but I knew him so well and I was just thrilled he was still going strong. He took off and soared up above my head before flying away over a distant mountain ridge." |
| Mr Sexton said Kellan was well on his way to being a full breeding adult with white tail feathers and a pale head and beak, and this may have been a factor in his death. | Mr Sexton said Kellan was well on his way to being a full breeding adult with white tail feathers and a pale head and beak, and this may have been a factor in his death. |
| "He was found close to another active sea eagle nest and as a near adult male he wouldn't have been welcomed by the resident male and there may have been a fight over the territory," the RSPB officer said. | "He was found close to another active sea eagle nest and as a near adult male he wouldn't have been welcomed by the resident male and there may have been a fight over the territory," the RSPB officer said. |
| 'Amazing bird' | 'Amazing bird' |
| "He was a gutsy young eagle with his full, long life ahead of him and I wouldn't be at all surprised if he went into battle as he was at that kind of age. | "He was a gutsy young eagle with his full, long life ahead of him and I wouldn't be at all surprised if he went into battle as he was at that kind of age. |
| "I think he was an amazing bird, full of spirit and a positive 'I will survive' attitude." | "I think he was an amazing bird, full of spirit and a positive 'I will survive' attitude." |
| Mr Sexton said his "heart sank" when he heard Kellan's remains had been found and knew his dream of "finding him one day paired up with a female and breeding himself was over". | |
| "But he had four good years in the wild, living life as an eagle should and that's what matters most," he added. | "But he had four good years in the wild, living life as an eagle should and that's what matters most," he added. |
| "He died in a beautiful wild area of Mull, on a rocky headland overlooking the sea. I'll never forget him and will miss his indomitable presence on Mull" | "He died in a beautiful wild area of Mull, on a rocky headland overlooking the sea. I'll never forget him and will miss his indomitable presence on Mull" |