A team of firefighters worked for three hours to rescue a trapped fox who had become wedged stuck in a tiny gap on London’s South Bank.
The terrified animal was heard “shrieking” in distress after getting stuck tight between a 10ft Thames wall and the back of a pop-up shop.
A passing tourist raised the alarm and a fire crew attended the scene outside County Hall at lunchtime on Saturday.
Four firefighters from London Fire Brigade were called out and for three hours they attempted to coax the frightened fox out, before hooking a lasso around its neck and gently pulling it free.
An officer for the RSCPA was on hand to catch the creature in a wire cage before taking it away to safety.
Photographer Paul King was walking past when he noticed the firefighters surrounding the shop.
He said: “I’ve worked in London for years and never seen a fox around the South Bank. The fox was absolutely howling. The width between the walls was only a few inches. There wasn’t an inch either side of it and it looked terrified.
“When he got out he looked a bit shocked but once he was in the cage he was licking his chops.”
A spokesman for London Fire Brigade said firefighters attended at 2.32pm and the incident was over at 4.50pm.
RSPCA inspector Lauren Evans said: “It is very unusual for foxes to be found in crowded areas like this and this poor animal was clearly petrified of all the people mingling around. No doubt it was a lot quieter when he first ventured out and got himself trapped.
“Fortunately we managed to free him without too much trouble though, and he seems traumatised but unhurt.”
