Badger cub rescued after 90ft Cornwall cliff plunge

A kayaker rescued a baby badger which plummeted 90ft (27m) into the sea.

The stricken creature survived the death-defying plunge and had scrambled to relative safety on a cliff ledge off the north Cornwall coast.

It was spotted by Tom Wildblood who pulled it on to his boat in a "surreal" rescue mission.

"When I went to grab the badger it tried to nip me but then a wave picked it up and threw it into the water," he said.

"I then grabbed it by the scruff of the neck and hauled it aboard. It was in a really bad way and was shaking. I think it finally realised we were doing it some good."

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The cave tour leader said the cub had probably fallen down an old miners' track above the cliffs at Trevaunance Cove near St Agnes, where he had been leading a group of kayakers.

"I was just doing a normal tour around the caves when I saw this badger on a ledge," he said.

"We normally see seals but I don't think I'll ever see anything like that again, it was surreal."

The cub has been checked by a vet and given a clean bill of health.

Picture of badger at vets: Amber Gardner, St Clements Vets