Firefighters smash walls to save trapped foxes

Firefighters smashed through the brickwork on a garage in Leicester after the 12-week-old cubs got stuck on Easter Sunday, on April 5.

Rescue teams dashed to the property in Letchworth Road after receiving reports from neighbours saying they could hear a fox crying in distress.

But crews were stunned to discover three young cubs wedged in a 6ins (15cm) gap between the two walls.

Firefighters chipped the brickwork away in a bid to free the trapped foxes.

All three were rescued, with one given oxygen therapy via a specialist mask for small animals before being transported to Leicestershire Wildlife Hospital.

A spokesperson for the hospital said: "It's an incredible rescue by the Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service. The three fox cubs are now safely in our care.

"One is separated from the others as it’s still on fluid, she’s not very well.

"The other two are doing well, they’re feeding well. They’re with us until the winter, so another six months, and we'll release them around October time. It’s the time where they’re the right age.

"When the other one is 100% we’ll try and integrate them with the siblings and, when they’re old enough, they’ll get moved outside and then to a bigger enclosure.

"We’ll eventually try and limit exposure. We don’t hang onto them, they’ll go in winter time. The aim is to not imprint them. If they have siblings they’re less likely to imprint on us."

A spokesperson for Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said: "Our Technical Rescue Team from Southern Station were called to a house on Letchworth Road in Leicester, where a fox could be heard trapped between two buildings.

"They were given permission to remove brickwork from the garage by the homeowner, and found not one, not two, but three trapped cubs.

"All were recovered safely, with one given oxygen therapy via our specialist mask for small animals, and were then left with the RSPCA for treatment. What a fantastic result.

"Remember - never attempt to rescue an animal in distress if it means putting yourself in danger - always contact the appropriate animal rescue organisation."