Firefighters rescue woman who fell into L.A. River trying to save pet bird

Los Angeles firefighters rescued a woman who fell about 20 feet into the Los Angeles River on Saturday morning while trying retrieve her husband's escaped pet bird, authorities said.

Described as similar to a large parrot, the bird escaped and fluttered into the river in Studio City. Its wings were clipped, and the woman suffered injuries when she fell trying to retrieve the pet, Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Erik Scott said.

At one point, the bird landed in the river's current and was washed downstream, "but firefighters were able to rush and catch up with it," Scott said. Firefighters plucked the live bird from the waters, and the pet was given to the husband.

About 14 firefighters participated in the rescue.

-- Rong-Gong Lin II