Cindy Hayes’s family outing to a lake was interrupted when they saw a bird close to their boat. It was an osprey, they realised – a bird that dives into water to catch fish, but often gets sucked in by heavier fish and is prone to drowning if its feathers get too heavy with moisture.

Hayes didn’t lose a moment to reach out to with her oar to get the bird out of the water. The video (above) shows the osprey clamber on to the oar, while Hayes kept her face down to protect it from the bird’s beak and talons.

As the boat reached the shore, the family encouraged the osprey to spread his wings and try to fly. Soon, the bird flew off the oar, while everyone on the boat cheered at the successful rescue.