Fox has lucky escape after falling 15ft into old cellar beneath busy Yorkshire street

A fox has had a lucky escape after being spotted trapped in an old cellar beneath a busy street in York.
By Ruth Dacey
Published 22nd Oct 2020, 11:22 BST
Updated 22nd Oct 2020, 13:18 BST

The RSPCA came to the fox's aid after a passer-by saw the stuck animal this week and contacted them for help.

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The distressed animal had fallen down a lightwell and became stuck in an old cellar, which was no longer in use since the building in Museum Street was converted into flats.

A fox, spotted trapped in an old cellar beneath a busy York street, has been rescued by the RSPCA. Photo credit: RSPCAA fox, spotted trapped in an old cellar beneath a busy York street, has been rescued by the RSPCA. Photo credit: RSPCA
A fox, spotted trapped in an old cellar beneath a busy York street, has been rescued by the RSPCA. Photo credit: RSPCA

RSPCA Inspector Thomas Hutton, who rescued the fox on Monday, said: "He must have fallen down the lightwell at the front of the building which was about a 15ft drop and he was unable to get back out.

"The passerby said they spotted the fox trying to jump onto a windowsill but falling repeatedly back down so this poor fella really needed help.

"The access to the cellar isn’t used anymore since it was converted to flats which meant I had to crawl through the old cellar to access the fox. Thankfully, he wasn’t injured and generally in a good condition so I contained him and brought him safely back up to street level.

"I took him to a quiet spot nearby at Museum Gardens and released him back into the wild immediately."

To help the RSPCA keep rescuing animals and continue our vital work through these unprecedented times, you can donate here.

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