Badly hurt manatee in critical condition

DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. (WSVN) -- A badly hurt manatee struggled to recover, after being rescued in a South Florida community.

Deerfield Beach residents said they were on their way home from work when they spotted wildlife officials struggling by a canal.

When they realized the workers were trying to rescue an injured manatee, more than 40 neighbors offered a helping hand. "We actually got it into a position to get it out of the water," said Darren Sonderfan. "It was really sad because the manatee got hit. it was really deep, a good three inches deep in it's body and it just looked like it was in so much pain. It was barely even moving."

Officials said a boat hit the 9-foot mammal, who's now in critical condition at the Miami Seaquarium.

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