Phil Garner never thought that one act of kindness would return to him tenfold.
Well, eleven, to be exact.
This incredible story started when Phil and his son were fishing near Leeds when a tiny duckling approached them.
They searched for its mother for hours but found no other ducks nearby.
The fishery manager told them the duckling might die if they left it alone in the cold.
They brought the duckling home and named her Freda.
Phil and his wife, Julia, nursed her back into good health and raised her in the best environment possible.
They let her walk around the living room, kitchen, and garden, where they also let her swim in a pond they made for their goldfish then.
It took no time for the poor duckling to feel at home and bond with the elderly couple.
Julia shared that Freda was like a guardian angel that came into their lives at the right time.
That time when Phil brought her home, he was undergoing treatment for his bladder cancer and had gone to three operations and fifteen follow-ups.
It was a tiring, disheartening life event, but they never thought one duckling would help Phil recover and keep his mind off things.
That didn’t last since Freda left their home in October.
Julia thought Freda might have joined other ducklings that she heard nearby.
The lonely duckling probably knew it would be best to be with her kind.
The couple felt some relief, but they also had a strong feeling that they would see her again since they knew that ducks always remember their humans like an imprint in their lives.
True enough, Freda came back, but she wasn’t alone.
Their little duckling turned into a lady and brought her “boyfriend” home to introduce to them.
Phil and Julia named him Fred, and they were happy to see the two occasionally, coming in and out of their garage.
Once again, this didn’t last long as Freda flew away and left Fred behind to fly by himself.
Two days later, she returned with a huge surprise: she brought her eleven ducklings!
Freda and her babies emerged from their neighbor’s lavender bush and enjoyed their regular visits to the couple’s home.
Since this has become a regular occurrence, Phil created a safe space for the ducklings to eat, drink, bathe, sleep, and have fun.
Phil dug a separate pond for them and ensured he had food for them when they visited.
He feeds them with cornmeal, grubs, worms, and Weetabix; they love returning for more.
They wade in the pool and love swimming in it.
Phil and Julia expect Freda and the ducklings to keep coming back for months, but they’re also planning to rehome them.
Part of them wish that Freda would go and leave as she used to, and the ducklings would follow her.
If not, they have contacted a nearby local fishing pool to rehome the ducklings and keep them safe from predators.
Watch the video below and listen to Phil and Julia narrate how Freda and her ducklings came into their lives.
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