Florida surfer saves struggling bird in water as Alberto approached

VENICE, Fla. (STORYFUL) - A surfer rescued a bird from the water off the coast of Venice, Florida, on Sunday, as Subtropical Storm Alberto traveled north west of the Florida coast.

‎Nicole Fulwiler‎, who took this video, said she and her children went to see the surf with the storm and were watching the surfers when they noticed the struggling bird, which she described as a pigeon. A surfer came close enough to the Venice Fishiner Pier that someone was able to get his attention to the bird, she said.

The video shows the surfer paddling to the bird as it flaps in the ocean and allowing the bird to get onto his board.

“The surfer took the pigeon back to shore and let him off his board so he could rest and dry off,” Fulwiler‎ explained.

Tropical storm warnings were issued as Alberto moved closer to the Gulf Coast. Winds of 45 miles per hour were measured. The storm caused rough conditions with forecasters warning beach-goers to proceed with caution if they planned to head to the beach. 

Jeffrey Medlin, a National Weather Service meteorologist, explained that even after the storm moves north there will still be swells coming up from the south that could cause dangerous rip currents. Just because it's "nice and sunny" after the storm passes, Medlin said, there's still a risk for swimmers.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.