Key Facts

• The barn owl struggled to find a place to land and fell into the sea several times before collapsing on the soldiers' boat.
• The soldiers named the owl Little Reg and kept it safe and warm in a box.
• The bird was likely taken far out to sea by a fishing vessel before being found.
• Lifeboat crews met the soldiers near the Norfolk coast to transport the owl to land.
• The owl was taken to the East Winch Wildlife Centre for veterinary care.
• Rescue teams said the owl was dehydrated and thin but expected to recover.
• The lifeboat crew has experience rescuing various animals, not just people.
• The rescue was described as very rare and unlikely to have succeeded without help.