Defying the Odds: Injured Grey Seal Endures 24 Hours on a 10ft Pillbox Before a Miraculous Rescue

A badly injured grey seal had to be rescued after it mysteriously ended up trapped on a ten foot high Second World War pillbox on a beach.

It is unknown how the grey seal became trapped on top of the concrete machine gun post - which dates back to the Second World War

It is unknown how the grey seal became trapped on top of the concrete machine gun post – which dates back to the Second World War

The RSPCA were called by a passerby who saw the badly injured seal perched on the pillbox at Fraisthorpe Beach, East Riding of Yorkshire, on Tuesday

The RSPCA were called by a passerby who saw the badly injured seal perched on the pillbox at Fraisthorpe Beach, East Riding of Yorkshire, on Tuesday

Animal collection officer Leanne Honess-Heather and deputy chief inspector Claire Mitchell rushed to the scene

‘Because he had been stuck up there for 24 hours and had been exposed to the strong sun throughout the heat of the day, he was very dehydrated.

‘The light was fading fast and we didn’t have much time. We knew we had to get him down quickly.’

The animal had been stuck for 24 hours and had been exposed to the strong sun throughout the day, leaving him very dehydrated

The animal had been stuck for 24 hours and had been exposed to the strong sun throughout the day, leaving him very dehydrated

Ms Leanne Honess-Heather and DCI Claire Mitchell used a net and supported the seal's weight between them to lower him down the sheer sides of the 10-foot high pillbox 

Ms Leanne Honess-Heather and DCI Claire Mitchell used a net and supported the seal’s weight between them to lower him down the sheer sides of the 10-foot high pillbox

The seal is pictured with a message in the sand which reads: 'Be aware of seal.' The animal's eye had sustained trauma and was infected so was treated by a vet. But he was otherwise healthy and released from Scarborough Sea Life Centre on Wednesday

The seal is pictured with a message in the sand which reads: ‘Be aware of seal.’ The animal’s eye had sustained trauma and was infected so was treated by a vet. But he was otherwise healthy and released from Scarborough Sea Life Centre on Wednesday

She continued: ‘The sheer sides and height of the pillbox made the rescue quite a challenge.