Fox left screaming for hours after becoming submerged and stuck in thick oil

A dog fox was left ‘traumatised’ after he became stuck in bitumen and then on the road, an animal hospital has said.

South Essex Wildlife Hospital said their vets found the three-month-old fox screaming for help after he became submerged in black goop for four hours in north east London on May 22.

Passers-by had freed the animal after it became stuck in a container of sticky bitumen, which is made from crude oil.

But it then became stuck to the road. The substance was so strong the fox was unable to urinate until he was rescued.

The animal charity described it as ‘one of the most horrific cases we’ve seen in 35+ years of wildlife rescue’.

The charity’s founder Sue Schwar told Metro: ‘The fox was really traumatised. The bitumen had begun to harden and it was all over the fox. The photos do not do it justice.

‘The passers-by had seen the fox’s mother try and move the fox but couldn’t.

‘Our team had considerable problems as well.’

After the hospital received a call about the fox, rescuer Lawrie and vet Aldawent to the scene to free him.

But he was so stuck that the team spent more than 30 minutes gently freeing each limb before rushing him back to the hospital.

Back at the hospital in Orsett, Essex, the team used baby oil to soften the bitumen and then WD-40 to dissolve it.

They spent hours gently soaking, scrubbing and drying the fox until 2amthat morning.

Sue told Metro it took three further days of massaging and washing the fur before all the oil could be removed from the fox, which is still on pain relief.

More than 30 bottles of baby oil were used when they cleaned the animal.

Sue added: ‘This case was particularly challenging. Everyone has been amazed.

‘There is nothing these animals can do to help themselves.

Despite the fox’s rescue, there are still worries about how the traumatic incident has affected his health.

‘There is still the worry of ingestion or toxicity, but we are absolutely determined to give this boy a chance,’ the team added in a statement.

Vets have since found the baby fox also has a problem with one of its legs which requires surgery.

They are not sure if this injury is due to being stuck in bitumen or not.

South Essex Wildlife Hospital treat around 10,000 animals every year.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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