Photographer Rachel was having a typical day taking wildlife pictures at Waxham Beach in the U.K. when she heard a troubling sound.

Image source: Friends Of Horsey Seals

It was the sound of someone calling for help.

The one in trouble was a young seal pup, stuck between rocks and buried in sand up to its neck.

It’s not clear how the seal pup got into such a tough spot, but Rachel could see that it couldn’t free itself.

Image source: Friends Of Horsey Seals

“She couldn’t just leave the pup, though she thought that there was no chance of him being rescued,” a spokesperson for the group Friends of Horsey Seals (FoHS) shared. “Thankfully, she sought help from the FoHS rescue team.”

The rescuers from FoHS quickly arrived at the scene, and with gentle care, they started digging away the sand trapping the little seal.

Image source: Friends Of Horsey Seal

Despite initial worries, the rescue team from Friends of Horsey Seals (FoHS) successfully carried out the rescue of the trapped seal.

“[Our team members] were able to dig the pup out and eventually lift him to freedom,” the FoHS spokesperson said.

The seal’s fur had sand on it, but it appeared to be in good health despite the scary ordeal.

Image source: Friends Of Horsey Seals

FoHS also highlighted that, even though the seal is still young, he’s now on his own and ready to face the challenges of living in the wild—as long as no more unexpected problems arise.

We trust that, when faced with unexpected challenges, hope persists through the work of organizations like FoHS and caring individuals like Rachel.