Batty Basil survives three-storey roof fall (From The Argus)

Batty Basil survives three-storey roof fall

4:30pm Friday 5th October 2012 in News By Anna Roberts, Crime reporter

It was described as “like a Monty Python sketch”.

But a fox which plunged three storeys was saved by the quickthinking of two women and the police.

Emma Bailey, 30, of Hove, and Sophie Archer, 24, of Whitehawk, were walking along Prince’s Street, Brighton, when the fox suddenly fell from the sky in the front of them.

They rushed over to see the fox lying on the ground, seriously injured. Photographer Miss Bailey took off her jacket and put it over the fox.

Unsure what to do the women alerted the police.

Officers feared yobs had thrown the fox off the building and so quickly attended.

However, it emerged the creature had actually just strolled off the roof before falling.

It was lucky PC Andrea Leahy attended because it meant the fox was taken straight to vets where it was diagnosed with a ruptured bladder and is now recovering.

Miss Bailey said: “I was walking down the street with a friend when suddenly there was a fox flying through the air. “It was like something from a Monty Python sketch.

“We looked up to see where it had come from but all the windows were shut.

“I thought he would die. When Andrea called and said he would live I was amazed.”

The incident happened on Tuesday last week at about 10pm.

PC Leahy, who explained the fox had been named Basil, said: “He was really lucky and now he is having some rest and relaxation.

“The women did a really good deed although I fear Emma’s jacket was ruined – Basil did smell a bit.

“We attended so quickly because we thought some sort of crime had been committed.

“It is a really good thing the two girls were walking past.”