A RESCUE mission for a struggling duck on the Swan River has ended in heartbreak — and raised fresh concerns about the iconic waterway’s health.

Maylands locals James Kozak and June Winsome-Smith were walking near the local yacht club around 8.30am when a trio of kayakers paddled towards shore, one waving frantically for help.

• Paddlers bring in the exhausted duck. Photo courtesy James Kozak

“The last of the three kayaks waved to us on shore, hoping to transfer an exhausted duck into our possession,” Mr Kozak said. 

“He had just collected it, found floating on its back, exhausted.”

The pair took the ailing bird to a vet near Beaufort and Central, but were soon called back — the duck needed to be transferred to Native Animal Rescue.

“The vet said it could be a botulism thing, from poisoned water quality,” Mr Kozak said. 

“They now have the duck.”

Ms Winsome-Smith, who helped cradle the animal, said: “The poor duck hit the lottery when those three came paddling along, at a time when all hope was lost. 

“It was very feeble and making weak attempts to peck at my hands.”

Sadly, the duck didn’t survive.

“It did pass the very next day at the wildlife rescue facility,” Mr Kozak said. 

“The nature of botulism in those little birds is that it needs tons of fluids to flush it out of their stomachs, otherwise it just ferments inside, pushing them into duck heaven.”

“The Swan River has a serious water quality problem they are not telling any of us about,” he warned. 

“First it’s ducks dropping, next will be the humans.”