WITNESSES have told of their horror after a seagull was reportedly punched by a member of the public in St Ives.

The incident is said to have taken place on the seafront on the afternoon of Wednesday, June 10. Social media posts claimed a man punched and beat a seagull that had stolen his food, in full public view and with children present. Images of the man thought to be the perpetrator were widely circulated along with suggestions of his identity.

On Facebook, people expressed concern for the injured bird. Many pointed out that all species of gulls are protected by law in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, making it illegal to intentionally injure, kill or take any gull. Breaking these laws can result in steep fines or even prison sentences.

Pauly Ford said the incident had been reported to the police. “Just witnessed a man grab a seagull that had knocked the pasty out of his hand and punched the bird twice really, really hard. This was at the harbour.

“The bird wasn’t able to fly away and a lady at the sea island boat trips picked it up to look after. Sadly, the bird had a big hole in its chest so will likely not survive.”

Rosie Reynolds from St Ives Boat Rides said the man had “just gripped a seagull and punched it to the point that it’s dying in a corner on the beach, all in front of the whole slipway. I don’t care what you think about seagulls being a nuisance, they don’t know they are doing anything wrong.”

She later provided an update, saying: “After the incident, we put the gull in a quiet corner out the way, as I know that shock can be the worst thing for a wild animal.

“By the time I had finished my shift and got ready to go home, it was up, and trundling around. When we went to go and see it to leave it was gone. I’m really hoping it was just some extreme shock, but also know it had a sizeable rupture on its chest and took some ridiculously hard punches.”

Charlotte Ivory responded: “This is awful, poor bird. I know that seagulls can be a pain but it absolutely does not warrant violence towards them, they’re just hungry themselves.”

Kevin Pardoe added: “When you visit St Ives and many other coastal places, seagulls attack for food. We are all aware of this. If you get mugged, it doesn't give you the right to kill them. Don't eat food in a open area.”

Environmental sciences student Elliot Roberts called for the RSPCA to be informed and “the harshest level of prosecution implemented, adding: “We now live in a world that people feel ok to be strangling and beating animals to death, in front of children at the beach - it’s egregious and vile.

“The RSPCA are able to prosecute people for animal cruelty and having witness accounts will make their case even more stronger when this man is inevitably arrested arrested and brought before a court.”

Devon & Cornwall Police appealed for witnesses and CCTV footage, adding that the force had received “a third-hand report” about the occurrence. A spokesperson said: “Despite posts being widely shared online, the matter was not reported to us by anyone present at the scene.

“We have now been made aware and are appealing for anybody who witnessed the incident, or who has relevant footage, to get in touch via 101 or our website quoting 50260148881 so we can investigate appropriately.”