Bird's rescuer gets rescued himself

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/bizarre/4686418.html


The Coast Guard rescued an east Montgomery County man with a helicopter Tuesday evening after he scaled a 60-foot pine tree to retrieve his beloved pet bird — Geronimo.

William Hart, 35, chased his $2,000 white cockatoo into the tree after it escaped its cage Tuesday. Before the Coast Guard helicopter finally retrieved him about 7:45 p.m., Hart could be seen standing on a limb holding the bird under his shirt and smoking a cigarette.

Porter firefighters first responded to the scene at about 5 p.m. In all, about 30 to 40 Montgomery County sheriff's deputies and firefighters from Porter and The Woodlands converged on the tree, but recent rains made the ground too wet to back a ladder truck close enough to reach Hart.

Authorities then called in Houston Police Department's water rescue team, which tried to reach the man with a rope, but it was not long enough. As daylight began to fade, the decision was made to call in the Coast Guard from Galveston.

The helicopter took Hart to Williams Airport off Porter Lane, less than a mile from the site of the rescue. Apart from a few scratches and a bite on his finger where the frightened bird nipped him, Hart was unscathed and relieved to be back on solid ground.

Cradling the shaking bird in his arms, he said he was surprised by all the fuss, but had no regrets, explaining "He's my baby. I'd do it again."

Normally it costs about $7,000 for an hour, and this rescue took about an hour and half, however, Hart will not be billed because it was an actual rescue.