ENFIELD, CT — Three ducklings were briefly separated from their mama after slipping into a soutern Enfield storm drain Sunday, but quick action by an alert resident reunited the family after a few anxious moments.

Around mid-afternoon Sunday, Courtney Cannella and Brian Spazzarini were sitting outside their Burnham Road home when they noticed a mother duck and three babies in the bushes in the side yard. "I was obsessed with them," Cannella said. "We watched them, tried to give them food, but eventually they were ready to relocate. So I just kept an eye on them because I wanted to make sure they made it across the street safely without any cars coming."

The ducks did make it across the street, but as soon as they reached the other side all three babies fell into a storm drain. "I froze, obviously started to cry, and then ran to Brian and told him what happened," Cannella said. "I was heartbroken. But without hesitation, Brian changed his shoes, grabbed a bucket, moved the grate on the catch basin, and hopped in."

Cannella captured Spazzarini on video as he lowered himself into the storm drain, then used a bucket to scoop out one duckling, then the other two. He released them all into the grass, and they reunited with their mother, who was crying at a nearby tree. "He managed to save all three baby ducks from the catch basin. I could not be more amazed and proud. My hero!" Cannella said.