Fox cub stuck in sink plughole is rescued

The fox cub cut its paws while trying to escape from the sink

A fox whose head became stuck in a sink plughole has been freed by a rescuer from a wildlife hospital.

The cub was stuck in the kitchen appliance in a garden in Basildon for several hours.

A spokesperson at the South Essex Wildlife Hospital, based in nearby Orsett, said one of its vets freed the animal "with a little wiggling and patience".

The fox was given a course of antibiotics because of swelling to its paws and a cautionary X-ray was completed.

The charity said the cub was returned to the garden so it could make its way back to its family.

The sink had been moved since the incident last week, the hospital added.

"It seemed that the homeowners were sorting out a shed and happened to leave it lying sideways when the poor creature decided to stick his head inside," a charity spokesperson said.

"As strange as it sounds, we have actually done this sort of rescue a few times and, with a little help and some delicate ear-folding, [we] managed to get him free."

Vet, Tom Linsel, was called out to free the cub who had got his head stuck in a sink