Stoat survives 32-mile trip stuck to car grille.

A stoat miraculously escaped unharmed after being driven for more than 30 miles to Sleaford wedged in the front grille of a car.

The tiny animal was found trapped in the BMW’s grille, with its face and front feet sticking out following an accidental hit-and-run.

And after its long drive, the stoat had to wait until the following morning before the driver noticed it and called the RSPCA.

It was seen in the road at High Dyke near the A1 junction at Colsterworth by aircraft technician Merv Draper as he returned home from a night shift at RAF Cottesmore at around 4am on Tuesday last week.

He thought he might have run the small mammal over, but couldn’t see it in the road behind him.

Thinking it must have managed to successfully evade the car, he continued his journey to Ewerby, near Sleaford, about 32 miles away.

However, the following morning, the animal was found trapped in the front of the car, fighting for survival.

Mr Draper, 55, said: “I couldn’t believe it. It looked like he had hit it side on and the clips on the grille had opened and trapped him.

"When I told the vet what had happened, he just looked at me like I was totally insane and advised me to ring the RSPCA – I must have looked ridiculous.”

RSPCA inspector Laura Jones went to Mr Draper’s home later that day and managed to assist him in prising the grille open and releasing the stoat to end its seven-hour ordeal.

Inspector Jones caught the frightened animal and took it to a vet, where it received pain relief and antibiotics.

Miraculously, despite the ordeal, the stoat was unhurt.

Inspector Jones said this was one of the most unusual rescues she had been involved with.

She said: “It’s amazing that the stoat managed to escape injury, despite being stuck in the grille for more than 30 miles and several hours.”

Following treatment, the young stoat was taken to WeirfieldHospital in Lincoln to begin rehabilitation and was fit enough to be released back into the wild a few days later.

Sarah Corden, a wildlife supervisor at the hospital, said: “It’s a miracle it didn’t sustain any injuries.

“There are no scratches or markings to say that it had been hurt.

“After what happened, it’s surprising it wasn’t in a worse physical condition. I think it just needed some tender love and care.”