Fox rescued from flood of oil in derelict building

An RSPCA inspector said it was a "miracle" the fox was spotted by a member of the public, who saw two eyes looking out from the tar-like flood of oil

A fox that was trapped in a flood of heating oil under a derelict building has been rescued in what one RSPCA worker called the "worst case" of its kind they had ever seen.

Inspectors were called after a member of the public spotted two eyes looking out from the tar-like substance in the basement of the building in Leicester and realised an animal was stuck.

RSPCA inspector Helen Smith then managed to attach a grasper around the animal's neck and pull him free.

He has since been thoroughly cleaned and will go through a process of rehabilitation in the hope he can then be released back into the wild.

RSPCA centre manager Lee Stewart said it was the "worst oil case" he had ever seen

The fox was trapped in an observation pit under the building in Friday Street, which had flooded with heating oil leaking from a vandalised storage tank.

Ms Smith, who was called to the scene on Thursday 27 March, said: "This poor fox was totally stuck in the thick, tar-like substance and couldn't move.

"We have no idea how long he had been there. It's a miracle he was spotted."

The fox had to be sedated to have the oil cleaned from its fur

She added: "Only the fox's ears, eyes and nose were above the oil line but his body was completely stuck.

"With some effort, I managed to pull the fox from the pit and took him straight to a local vets where the mammal was sedated and the huge clean-up job began.

"I've never seen anything like it.

"The fox was covered in oil from head to toe and it was so thick that it was a big job to clean it all off."

The fox was then taken to the RSPCA Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in Cheshire for further cleaning and rehabilitation.

It is hoped the fox will be released back into the wild this week

Video footage released by the RSPCA shows rescuers massaging washing up liquid into the fox's fur to break down and remove the oil while the animal was sedated.

Lee Stewart, centre manger, said: "This is the worst oil case I have ever seen.

"The poor fox had to be sedated to be washed by the team, so at each wash we had three staff washing and a vet and vet nurse on standby."

It is hoped the fox will be released back into the wild this week.