MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — A pelican is now safe after a Manatee County lifeguard "went above and beyond his call of duty" and came to its aid.

Owen Munday, with the Manatee County Public Safety Department, is seen in photos holding the injured pelican in a towel. The bird was noticed by a nearby resident in distress.

"We’re proud of our lifeguards who not only protect people in the water but also show compassion for the wildlife that shares our beaches," the department wrote on Facebook.

The pelican was taken into care.

This weekend, one of our Beach Lifeguards, Owen Munday, went above and beyond his call of duty. A resident noticed a... Posted by Manatee County Public Safety Department on Monday, September 15, 2025

See Full Page