A BABY seal that had became separated from its mother was fighting for life when she was spotted off the coast of Broadstairs.

But the story had a happy ending. The seal was plucked to safety and is recovering well in an RSPCA sanctuary.

It is thought the common seal was just two weeks old when it was spotted by bay inspector Tom Phillips foundering in Viking Bay.

Experts from the Thanet Coast Project and British Diver Marine Life Rescue were called in and the pup was pulled from the waves.

She was found to be suffering from ailments including lungworm, pox, ulcers and breathing difficulties.

Wildlife officer Richard Thompson said the pup was doing well at the RSPCA’s Mallydams Wood centre, near Hastings in Sussex.

He said: “She’s doing fine and romping on now. She probably got separated from her mum and drifted from the colony. She has a chest infection and mouth ulcers but she is responding to treatment.”

The seal was found to be grossly underweight, at 18kg as opposed to their normal weight of 35-40kg, and is being fed on herring before being allowed back into the wild.

* A second seal pup has been rescued from the Thanet coastline and is now recovering at a local vets. The young pup was found at Newgate Gap in Cliftonville by two women who were walking their dogs on Wednesday morning and was rescued by the Thanet Coast Project and the British Divers Marine Life Rescue, Kent. It will also be taken to the RSPCA centre in Mallydams.