A fox has had a "miracle" escape after being pulled alive from a car grille 12 hours after a collision, the RSPCA has said.
The animal was hit by a car driving through Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire in the early hours of 8 September.
It was not immediately spotted by the driver, who called the RSPCA when he saw the animal later in the day.
Amy Reiter, an RSPCA animal collection officer, eventually rescued the fox.
"The lad hit a fox during the early hours of the morning and thought it went under his vehicle," she said.
"He hadn't realised the fox had survived the accident and had no idea it had got stuck in the car."
It's astounding that having been hit and stuck in the grille for around 12 hours the fox was not only still alive, but no worse for wear
The rescue was difficult due to the animal's position and because of its distress.
Despite this it was pulled from the car without any serious injury, which Ms Reiter said was "as if by a miracle".
"The fox was understandably very frightened," she said.
"He didn't want us to go anywhere near him and I couldn't wrap him in a towel due to how he was stuck, so I had to use my grasper to get hold of him."
"It's astounding that having been hit and stuck in the grille for around 12 hours the fox was not only still alive, but no worse for wear."
The RSPCA officer returned the fox safely to the area where the collision happened so that the animal could return to his den.
