Fox mauls British boy in school playground

By Vince Soodin and Bryan Flynn of The Sun in London From: NewsCore June 21, 2010 9:43PM

A THREE-year-old British boy was rushed to the hospital after he was mauled by a fox at a school playground.

The terrified boy suffered cuts to his hands and feet when the animal savaged him after he tugged on its tail, UK newspaper The Sun reported.

The youngster, who was not named, was treated in the hospital for bites and scratches, and went home to recover.

It was thought that the boy was at a party at Dorothy Stringer High School in Brighton, southern England, when he saw the creature's tail poking out from beneath a raised classroom.

He went over and yanked it - and the fox turned and attacked. Horrified onlookers raced over and pulled the child clear.

An inspector from an RSPCA animal shelter called in after Saturday's incident could not trap the fox, which scurried off after the attack.

Staff at the school told the inspector that the fox lived under the building for about a year.

A spokesman said: "The child had approached the fox. The fox had not approached the child. The child had touched the fox's tail and was bitten.

"Fox attacks are rare," he added.

The attack came two weeks after a fox crept into a London home and attacked nine-month-old twins Isabella and Lola Koupparis while they were in their cribs.

Isabella underwent an emergency operation and was on a ventilator. She may need plastic surgery for arm wounds. Her sister suffered serious facial and arm injuries.

From: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/fox-mauls-uk-boy-in-school-playground/story-e6frfku0-1225882473738