The fox had mysteriously gotten its leg caught in the door of a Hadleigh home and was released before getting stuck once again between a fence and a wall.
South Essex Wildlife Hospital rescues and rehabilitates orphaned and injured animals found across the area.
“This poor fox had a VERY bad day today,” said a spokesperson for the Orsett-based charity.
“Not only did he somehow managed to get his leg stuck in a letter box (we have no idea how he did that either) but, after being released by a member of the public, he then got stuck between a fence and a wall whilst trying to escape.
“Luckily, Lawrie, one of our rescuers, was soon on scene and carefully wiggled the poor fox back out of the gap.
“Although immediately a lot more feisty, his leg needed to be checked and he was taken back to the hospital where the true nature of his injuries became known.
“Sadly, he was far from unscathed. His short time stuck in the letterbox had left a nasty wound, with ligament damage and several fractures to the metatarsal bones.
“Rushed straight into surgery, the damaged ligaments were sutured back together by Alda, one of our vets, before the leg was splinted in place.”