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This injured bird of prey’s rescuer had to evacuate their car after it woke up

The red kite was taken in by the RSPCA after a three-and-a-half hour wait for the motorist.
The red kite was taken in by the RSPCA after a three-and-a-half hour wait for the motorist. The red kite was taken in by the RSPCA after a three-and-a-half hour wait for the motorist.

A goodhearted motorist who stopped to rescue an injured bird of prey had to evacuate his vehicle after the ruffled casualty woke up.

Matt Graveling, a journalist for BBC South, was driving towards Henley on Thames in Oxfordshire when he spotted the injured red kite on the road, leapt out and laid the unconscious bird on his passenger seat.

The bird unconscious
The bird unconscious (Matt Graveling/Twitter)

“After about 15 minutes of driving the bird started to open its eyes, and ruffle its feathers,” Matt told the Press Association.

“Then all of a sudden it stands up on its legs on my passenger seat – this bird came up to my shoulders and looks over at me.”

At this point Matt realised driving at 60mph with a bird – with a beak and talons that “looked like they could do some damage” and large wings that could obstruct his view – was a bad idea, so pulled over and got out.

The kite from outside the car
The kite from outside the car (Matt Graveling/Twitter)

At a nearby garage, Matt called the RSPCA who arrived three-and-a-half hours later to collect the kite and take it to a specialist vet to give it fluids.

“One of the bird’s eyes was injured due to being hit,” added Matt. “And that could well be its downfall because they need perfect vision in order to hunt.”

The kite wrapped up by the RSPCA handler
The kite wrapped up by the RSPCA handler (Matt Graveling/Twitter)

Matt, whose car was a “bit of a mess” with droppings afterwards, shared his account of the encounter to Twitter, where it has been shared thousands of times.

“I think my favourite thing to come out of this is how many other people are posting their own animal car share stories,” Matt said.

“It’s nice to know there are still those who would welcome an injured animal into their car, even if they know it will most likely end up pooing on their seats,” said Matt.