Badger cub rescued after 90ft Cornwall cliff plunge

A kayaker rescued a baby badger which plummeted 90ft (27m) into the sea.

The stricken creature survived the death-defying plunge and had scrambled to relative safety on a cliff ledge off the north Cornwall coast.

It was spotted by Tom Wildblood who pulled it on to his boat in a "surreal" rescue mission.

"When I went to grab the badger it tried to nip me but then a wave picked it up and threw it into the water," he said.

"I then grabbed it by the scruff of the neck and hauled it aboard. It was in a really bad way and was shaking. I think it finally realised we were doing it some good."

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The badger was swept from the ledge into the sea

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The badger scrambled on to a ledge after falling into the sea at Trevaunance Cove

The cave tour leader said the cub had probably fallen down an old miners' track above the cliffs at Trevaunance Cove near St Agnes, where he had been leading a group of kayakers.

"I was just doing a normal tour around the caves when I saw this badger on a ledge," he said.

"We normally see seals but I don't think I'll ever see anything like that again, it was surreal."

The cub has been checked by a vet and given a clean bill of health.

Picture of badger at vets: Amber Gardner, St Clements Vets