A hedgehog has miraculously survived after falling down an EIGHT ft vertical drop into into a lightwell.
The little hedgehog had caught himself in a prickly situation after he had fallen whilst “snuffling around at street level”.
It had managed to squeeze himself through the railings and tumbled into the basement lightwell below.
The RSPCA were called to the scene after a female walker had spotted him trapped, unable to crawl his way out.
The hedgehog was rescued on Thursday morning (31 May) on Watford Field Road, in Watford.
Animal collection officer Kate Wright went to help the hedgehog who’d got stuck.
She said: “It was a good 8ft drop so I’m amazed he hadn’t hurt himself.
“The poor little thing had obviously been snuffling around at street level when he squeezed through the railings and tumbled into the basement lightwell below.
“Thankfully he was okay and a lady spotted him and, realising he wouldn’t be able to get out on his own, contacted us.”
ACO Wright attended and was able to access the lightwell via a ladder. Wearing gloves, she picked up the hedgehog and checked him over for any injuries.
She continued: “Thankfully the little hog wasn’t hurt and was in a fairly good condition.
“As the space was small I was able to catch him easily without stressing him too much so I decided, as he was uninjured, to release him there and then.
“I found a nearby spot – a fair distance from the lightwell so he wouldn’t fall in again – and released him into the undergrowth.
“He was quite happy to be free and scuttled off into the shrubs.
“It’s so lovely to have a job like this where we’re able to rescue a wild animal and release them there and then.”
