A flooded public park, benches half underwater and a playground standing silent in the rain, became the scene of one very small rescue with a very big heart.

Chest-mounted bodycam footage dated 2024-07-14, timestamp 16:27:36, opens on a scene of quiet devastation. Muddy floodwater stretches across the park’s walking paths, fallen branches drift past submerged benches, and streetlights glow through the heavy rain. In the middle of it all, balanced on a small black plastic crate floating on the current, sits a single tiny duckling.

The duckling, its yellow-and-brown down soaked through, huddles on the crate with wide, frightened eyes. It is far too small to swim the floodwater to safety, and the crate beneath it rocks with every ripple.

The rescuer, wearing a bright orange waterproof flood-response jacket and thick black rescue gloves, wades in slowly. One gloved hand steadies the floating crate so it cannot tip. The other moves toward the duckling with enormous care, giving the little bird time to see it coming. The duckling turns its head, blinks, and peeps softly.

Then, in one gentle motion, both hands cup around the duckling without squeezing its delicate body. There is a tiny flutter and a wiggle of webbed feet as it is lifted clear of the crate. Held securely low in both cupped hands just above the water, the duckling settles almost at once, its chirps slowing as it looks around, calmer now, while the empty crate drifts beside them and the rain keeps falling on the flooded park.

No bigger than a teacup, the duckling had been riding out the storm on a piece of floating plastic. Thanks to a patient pair of hands, it finished the day warm, held, and safe.