SNAPPED: PCFD duckling rescue

Photo: Waldorf Astoria.

PARK CITY, Utah — At Waldorf Astoria Park City, even the smallest guests receive five-star attention.

A mother duck and her eight ducklings visited the resort’s pool area earlier this week, drawing the watchful eye of hotel staff. While monitoring the family, a housekeeper spotted trouble: two of the ducklings had fallen into an 8-foot-deep storm drain.

Staff immediately called the Park City Fire Department for help. Firefighters arrived quickly, removed the storm drain cover and climbed down to assess the situation, only to discover the ducklings had wandered into a pipe nearly 30 feet long and were unreachable from either end.

Firefighters considered entering the pipe themselves, but the space was too narrow. Instead, they devised a careful plan, using a fire hose to gently spray water from one side of the pipe to coax the ducklings toward the other opening.

After roughly two hours, both ducklings emerged safely. A firefighter retrieved them and brought them to the surface, where Waldorf Astoria staff rinsed them off and returned them to their mother. She appeared eager to reunite with the pair, quickly welcoming them back into the fold.

“We are incredibly grateful to the firefighters who came out, took their time, and worked so carefully to save the smallest residents at Waldorf Astoria Park City,” said Jill Spector.