A 400-pound manatee named Melby was freed from a stormwater drain under a roadway on the Space Coast on March 14, 2026, after a coordinated rescue by Brevard Fire Rescue. The operation, which involved specialized techniques to extract the 7-foot-long marine mammal, has since been highlighted by the National Fire Protection Association as a case study for emergency responders. Melby became trapped in the drainage system during heavy rainfall, according to officials, and was discovered by a passerby who called 911. Firefighters and animal rescue teams arrived within minutes, but the confined space posed unique challenges. "We had to work quickly to avoid stressing the animal," said Brandi Phillips, an animal technical rescue specialist with Brevard Fire Rescue. "Melby was calm, but the situation required precision." The team used foam to stabilize the manatee and carefully maneuvered it out of the drain with the help of a crane. The rescue took over two hours and involved more than a dozen responders. Melby was checked by a veterinarian on-site before being released back into the Indian River near the rescue location. The incident has drawn attention from wildlife agencies and emergency management groups nationwide. "This was a rare scenario," Phillips said. "Most manatee rescues happen in water, not underground." Brevard Fire Rescue has since shared footage of the operation with training programs across the country. The manatee, which is estimated to be around 10 years old, is believed to be healthy. No injuries were reported among the rescue team. Local officials praised the effort as a testament to the preparedness of Brevard’s first responders. "We’re trained for a lot of things," said a spokesperson for Brevard Fire Rescue. "But this was a first for us."