Dec. 29 (UPI) — A pair of workers for Britain’s South West Water were conducting a site inspection at an underground storm tank and ended up coming to the rescue of a stranded hedgehog.
Joe Martin and George Cane made the discovery while inspecting the tank in Blackawton, near Dartmouth.
“I was walking the site as part of routine checks when I spotted a small ball of spikes down in the tank. Thankfully the storm tank was empty despite the recent rain,” Martin said in a news release. “We improvised with a telescopic sampling pole, a bucket and a hoe to scoop him to safety.”
The duo put the hedgehog into a cardboard box with some dry vegetation and drove him to the Prickles in a Pickle rescue in Stoke Fleming.
Judy, co-founder of Prickles in a Pickle, said the hedgehog, now named Aquarius, is gaining weight nicely, but will remain in the rescue’s care for a time while he undergoes treatment for internal parasites.
She said he will eventually be returned to a location near the water tank, which has now been reinforced to prevent any other small animals from gaining unauthorized entry.
“It’s made our Christmas knowing Aquarius is on the mend,” Martin said. “He’s a tough little character, but let’s hope he’s less adventurous in the future!”