That a remarkable but sad story  Paul, no doubt not a good outcome for such a magnificent bird, but I’m sure the lucky Little Grebe is happy with the outcome, I watched a similar event on Tealham Moor a few years ago, a Grey Heron had caught a Water Vole, before the Heron was able to enjoy its catch a Buzzard swooped in, the Heron  dropped the Vole and the Buzzard attempted to snatch the Vole it then tore at the grass hoping to find the Vole but without success, my guess is the Little guy escaped both of the predators and lived another day.
Sometimes the little guy wins.
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I watched a Marsh Harrier Sunday at Westhay Moor National Nature Reserve hovering over the water like a Kestrel for 10-15 seconds. He then dropped into the water onto a Little Grebe. He tried to take off with the Grebe but appeared to be tangled in the weeds. He attempted several times but couldn’t get off the water. He was then laying on the water surface and then the Grebe popped up about 3 metres from under him and turned around and started watching him struggle. He was calling constantly and struggling more and more. You could see the energy he was using tiring him. He layed on the surface and after a time got to the reeds but couldn’t get up onto them. I left him after about an hour where he was still in the water. Have no idea what happened to him.
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