In a remarkable story from Gloucestershire, a pheasant survived being trapped in a car’s radiator grill for an entire 24 hours, emerging without a single scratch. The unusual ordeal began when a motorist spotted the bird on the road and braked suddenly. When she stepped out to check, the pheasant was nowhere to be seen, leading her to believe it had flown away.
Hours later, a work colleague noticed the bird safely stuck in the front grill of the vehicle. Unable to free it herself, the woman took the car to a local garage in Bourton-on-the-Water, where the staff were surprised to discover their unexpected passenger.
Lucy McDonagh, 44, recorded the rescue as her husband and garage owner James Collett, 59, carefully removed the pheasant from the vehicle. Lucy explained, “She couldn’t get it out herself and the bird was hissing at her. The staff placed the car on the MOT ramp and dismantled the engine under tray to reach it. It took about 15 minutes to free the pheasant.”
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Miraculously, the bird was completely unscathed. “Not a feather out of place!” Lucy said.
As a long-standing business in the village—with over 100 years of service—the garage performed the rescue free of charge. The pheasant was then gently placed in a box, and the owner generously offered to release it near Hawkstones Brewery.
This heartwarming rescue highlights the unexpected challenges wildlife can face and the kindness of those who step up to help.