This bedraggled and exhausted fox had a lucky escape after becoming stranded on a lock gate on the River Thames today.

The animal, believed to be a young adult, was rescued from its precarious resting spot at Iffley Lock in Oxford and was whisked off to Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital in Buckinghamshire.

The normally shy creature was grateful for human intervention after it was found soaked and exhausted on a ledge after a nighttime hunting trip had apparently turned into an impromptu swim.

RSPCA chief inspector Doug Davidson was watched by a small crowd and patient boaters as he boarded a nearby barge to pull the animal to safety.

He said: "I'm going to take it to the wildlife hospital to recoup for a few days because it's a bit wet and cold. Otherwise, it's quite alert."

It is not known whether the animal was male or female, but Mr Davidson said he thought it might have got into difficulty while hunting for a feathered meal.

He said: "I think what happened was it fell into the lock, perhaps tempted by the geese and ducks, and could not get out.

"On the lock gates there are what I presume are oak beams running horizontally. They are about 10 inches wide and it would appear, for reasons unknown, that the fox got on to one of them and couldn't climb off or move anywhere else."

The stubborn fox's refusal to move meant the lockkeeper could not open the gates for fear of washing it away or crushing it.

Mr Davidson said: "One of the boat owners who was queuing downstream was very kind and let us use his narrowboat to reach the fox.

"It was so docile that we were able to get very close and bring it on to the boat. I think it was probably exhausted.

"Foxes aren't known for their swimming ability and I think this one was perhaps a bit naive.

"In 25 years of doing this job I've never encountered a fox in quite that scenario."