Cut off by the tide, but fantastic Mr Fox had a rather cunning plan…

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It is perhaps the last place you would expect to find a fox.

But one was spotted swimming more than 900ft to dry land after it got cut off by the tide on a beach.

The Mull Wildlife Group were on a trip to East Lothian when members spotted the ‘orange head’ out on the rocks.

The handsome fox was stranded out at sea in the Firth of Forth after seemingly getting trapped while lying in wait for birds off the beach at Longniddry.

Nancy Somerville, 70, and her friends watched as the wild animal dipped its paws in the water – and then recoiled at the freezing temperatures.

The fox became cut off by the incoming tide at a beach in Longniddry in East Lothian

The fox became cut off by the incoming tide at a beach in Longniddry in East Lothian 

Getting ready to take the plunge; the fox braces itself before leaping into the freezing water

Getting ready to take the plunge; the fox braces itself before leaping into the freezing water

Doing the doggy paddle: the plucky fox swam a lung-bursting 900ft to dry land

Doing the doggy paddle: the plucky fox swam a lung-bursting 900ft to dry land 

Time to dry off as the water-logged fox finally made it back to safety

Time to dry off as the water-logged fox finally made it back to safety

But with the waves lapping at the fast- disappearing outcrop, it was left with no choice but to leap into the water.

The wildlife group members watched as the creature swam all the way to the shore – stopping on a rock for a breather – before running away to dry off.

Retired community worker Ms Somerville said: ‘He looked really quite healthy apart from his tail being pretty wet.

‘It looked like it wanted to get into the water. It dipped its paw in and decided it was too cold but eventually it took the plunge.

‘By this time the tide was coming in more and more. It was getting cut off. It was quite something to see.’

She said the group believe the fox was hunting for birds when it got stranded and they watched it for around 30 minutes.




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