Manatee rescued from Ortega-area storm drain

It took about five hours and a lot of manual labor, but a manatee has been freed after being trapped in a storm drain in the Ortega area.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission sent the nine-foot manatee to Sea World in Orlando, so the rehabilitation center there can do a full assessment of the manatee's health. An FWC Spokesman says the manatee was "stressed" when it was pulled up. Shortly before 7:30PM, Sea World confirmed the manatee had arrived and was being given fluids for dehydration.

Jacksonville Fire and Rescue worked for hours to dig up the ground and open up the pipe. The manatee was pulled out with the help of some heavy equipment, and loaded in to the back of a truck.

FWC, JSO, and the City of Jacksonville were also on scene.

This is happened off Davinci Avenue and Della Robbia Way, near Roosevelt and Ortega.