A brave badger clutched on for dear life after falling into a storm drain until he was rescued by the RSPCA and London Fire Brigade.

The exhausted badger, believed to have strayed from nearby Kew Gardens, was discovered stuck in a storm drain, yesterday (March 22) at around 8am.

An animal lover passing by spotted the distressed mammal and called the RSPCA for help, who called the fire birgade.

RSPCA officer and LFB crew rescue badger stuck in storm drain

The badger was found clinging onto a pile of rubble in the storm drain, only just managing to keep himself from falling in the water.

RSPCA animal collection officer Jill Sanders arrived to save the anxious badger.

She said: “This poor badger had obviously slipped down into the storm drain by accident, and managed to grab onto the pile of bricks which was keeping him just out of the water."

Badger rescued from storm drain

"He was clearly exhausted so wasn’t able to swim back to the opposite side to even attempt to climb out, poor thing," she said.

“I knew I’d need a ladder and it wasn’t clear whether it would be safe for me to get down there alone, so I phoned the London Fire Brigade for assistance and they were brilliant.

Ms Sanders, along with two firefighters, climbed down into the storm drain to reach the badger.

“Once he saw us he suddenly perked up, and he proved pretty tricky to catch," she said.

"I got soaked through and covered in smelly mud too but it was worth it in the end.

"Once I contained him, I checked him over for an injuries but he seemed in good health, so he was fine to be safely released.

"It was really nice to watch him scuttle off to find his sett.”

Rescue team

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson added: “Just like in this instance, the first thing to do should be to call the RSPCA if you see an animal in difficulty.

"If assistance from firefighters is required, the RSPCA will call us.”

Show your support by donating to the RSPCA text LOVE to 87023 to give £3 (Text costs £3 + one standard network rate message).

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