WATCH: Fox Rescued From Drain At Eastbourne College

A fox that had gotten itself stuck in a drain has been rescued by the East Sussex Wildlife Rescue & Ambulance Service (WRAS).

Rescuers said they were called out by staff at Eastbourne College to reports that the animal had its head stuck in a plastic drain surround.

Trevor Weeks and Ellie Langridge attended on site where the fox was contained behind some hoarding from recent construction work.  

The college security staff unscrewed the hoarding to allow rescuers to gain access to the fox.

Using a thick blanket Trevor was able to cover the fox, wrap it around him and lift him up carefully. 

Trevor said:

"Normally you would scruff a fox but this was not possible due to the plastic around the fox’s neck, all I could do if wrap the blanket round the fox."

Once back out of the enclosure, the fox was placed into a waiting cage and transported to WRAS’s veterinary Hospital at Whitesmith near Hailsham. 

Rescuers were then able to cut away at the plastic making the hole bigger for the fox to get his head through.

WRAS's Lead Casualty Manager Katie Nunn Nash said:

"The fox was clearly pleased to be free from his black plastic cone.

"We have decided to keep him in for a few days observations especially as he has been coughing which could be as a result of swelling from the plastic."

 The team said any animal caught like this can have an invisible ligature injury, which can cause swelling under the skin and affect the airway and circulation.

WRAS’s will monitor the fox closely and hopes he will make a full recovery.