Peter Beale ) gurgled happily, sounding much like they
were saying :

Peter Beale ) gurgled happily, sounding much like
they were saying :

Don't mind the gurgling, but why have I been pluralised? :-)

"They" is used as a (slightly awkward) gender-neutral singular, rather than
"he/she/it", or "s/he" or some similar godawful murdering of the language.

http://www.crossmyt.com/hc/linghebr/austheir.html#X1a