Caught on tape: Zookeeper plunges into icy water to rescue ostrich

PITTSBURGH -- Video of a zookeeper plunging into the icy water of a moat at the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium is making the rounds on YouTube.

The zookeeper, Jesse Anna, tells CBS Pittsburgh he first tried his best to guide the bird back to dry land, but when that didn't work, he took matters into his own hands.

"We were trying to guide her with the poles, back to the shallower part where she'd be able to get back out again," he explained. "The ice kind of prevented her from going back the whole way, and when she hit it, she kind of freaked out a little bit and headed for the deep spot."

In the process, he said the ostrich took his pole.

"It's still in the bottom of the pond now. So I hope it doesn't happen again," Anna said.

As a final option, he gently slid into the frigid water himself.

"I knew it was going to be cold," Anna said. "So I kind of got in and did what had to be done."

What had to be done was somehow push the massive bird toward the shore. The struggle was captured by an amateur videographer.

"I was just kind of concentrating on keeping my head above water," the zookeeper recalls.

He finally succeeded. And the exciting moment was captured on camera.

You can watch the entire rescue below.