A not-so-cunning fox managed to get itself stuck twice with just a matter of moments.
The animal got stuck in a letterbox and was found hanging upside down from a door by paperboy Liam Clement.
The 16-year-old came to the male’s rescue and released its foot.
However, just seconds later, the fox ended up wedging itself between nearby bricks and a garden fence, as it tried to make a getaway. Â
An animal rescue charity was called out and saved the ‘feisty’ animal, who is now recovering from its injuries at the South Essex Wildlife Hospital in Orsett, Essex.
Lawrie Brailey, operations manager for the organisation, said they received a report from the teenager about a fox which had become stuck in the Hadleigh area.
Liam had spotted the animal with its foot hanging out of a letter box while carrying out his paper round.
The teenager went over to help and managed to free the fox from the door.
Paperboy Liam Clement spotted the fox trapped in a letterbox while on his paper round
After freeing the fox, the animal then became trapped again between a wall and a garden fence
The team at South Essex Wildlife said they have ‘no idea’ how the animal managed to get itself into the position where it was hanging upside down.
After being released, the male fox panicked and scarpered away.
But, while attempting to flee, the alarmed fox ran to the left of the front door and got itself stuck between the wall and fence.
Mr Brailey said that it was fortunate that the animal was not able to escape, as it suffered injuries from the letterbox which would require attention.
South Essex Wildlife were called out to the property where Mr Brailey used a tool to wiggle the fox out from the tight space.
He said that the fox was ‘quite good’ while he was removing it from the gap, but added: ‘As soon as he got into the cage he went ballistic.
‘He’s a really, really feisty fox. Coming into the hospital, he has been really, really angry.’
The fox injured its foot by becoming stuck in the letterbox and is now recovering in the hospital
The fox is now recovering from its injury in a hospital and will not be released for at least two months
Mr Brailey said the fox has been left with a nasty wound, ligament damage and several fractures to the metatarsal bones, which are the five long bones located in the foot.
It was rushed straight into surgery and the damaged ligaments were sutured back together before the leg was splinted in place.
On when the fox can be released, Mr Brailey said: ‘There’s no sort of timeline for it. We would be talking a minimum of two months, really.’
South Essex Wildlife, which was founded in 1995, said: ‘Time will tell is further surgery is required, but we’re not giving up on this poor boy just yet… please wish him the best of luck.’
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Not so cunning now! Fox gets stuck in letterbox before wedging itself between garden fence in calamitous escape bid