Young rescued after getting trapped in hot engine

A young fox has been rescued after getting trapped inside the engine of an Amazon delivery van in Derby.

The RSPCA said the driver was on shift on Wednesday when he spotted a warning light – and discovered the “distressed” fox when he popped the bonnet.

Staff from the charity used a “grasper” to remove the fox, and it later emerged the creature had triggered the warning light by chewing through wires in the engine.

The fox was treated for a minor burn on her back leg, pressure sores and bruising from where she was trapped, before being taken to Leicestershire Wildlife Hospital where she is now on the “road to recovery”.

The RSPCA added it hoped to release the fox back into the wild next month.

RSPCA inspector Herchy Boal said being trapped in a hot engine could have ended “very differently” for the fox.

“We have no idea how long she’d been in the engine for – potentially, she could have had a long and scary journey trapped in there – so it was a relief to get to her in time,” said Ms Boal.

“She’s now in the best place for ongoing treatment, and after she’s well rested and recovered she’ll be able to return to the wild, where she belongs.”