Koi Carp Receives Mouth-to-Mouth Resuscitation After Vandals Destroy Tank

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Staff at a British cricket park performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on koi carp after vandals entered the grounds overnight and destroyed the holding tank in which the fish were temporarily located, according to the Daily Gazette.

On the morning of November 3, Colchester Castle Park employees arrived at work to see the fish struggling for air. The employees attempted to resuscitate the larger fish that had not yet suffocated.

In all, 45 fish, including valuable koi, were killed from the attack, according to the newspaper, but the quick actions of the employees were able to save some fish.

“Had our park gardeners and park rangers not responded so quickly this morning, then we would have lost many more,” Colchester Castle Park cabinet member Annie Feltham told the Daily Gazette. “I cannot praise them enough for their response in reviving some of the fish and quickly setting up new water tanks to contain the survivors.”

An 18 year old has since been charged with “theft and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal” while the 16 year old involved was released without being charged, according to the website.