Substation stowaway saved by quick-thinking power worker
A hedgehog rescued from inside an electricity substation has been named ‘Leccy’ after being rehabilitated by a UK Power Networks employee.
Electricity man Jon Gray found the dehydrated and malnourished hedgehog by “pure chance” when maintaining the electricity substation in Colchester earlier this month during a heatwave.
Understanding that hedgehogs are vulnerable to extinction in the UK, he removed the “shaking” animal and immediately took it to a hedgehog hospital.
After being looked over by the Hedgehog Friendly Vet Practice in Brantham, Suffolk, Leccy was given back to Jon who looked after the animal in his own back garden where it spent two days re-acclimatising and getting back on its feet with ample food and water in its own special pen.
On advice from the hedgehog hospital Jon left the pen door open for her to wander off back into the wild.
Jon said: "When I attended the substation, colleagues told me they had found a hedgehog trapped inside.
"It was clear she was in poor condition, undernourished and dehydrated, and it was pure luck she was discovered when she was. She was a very hungry hog!
“I carefully removed her and took her to a specialist hedgehog-friendly vet in Brantham, where she was taken into critical care. The team there named her ‘Leccy’ and she made an amazing recovery. She gained weight, rehydrated and looked much healthier.”
Jon released Leccy last Thursday and said: “It's fantastic to know she’s back in the wild now!"
"We're proud to have played a small part in Leccy's recovery and to work with organisations that share our commitment to protecting animals."
Registered veterinary nurse Lesley, from the Hedgehog Friendly Vets Team said: “Leccy was collected within an hour to prevent her being in a stressful environment.
“She was found to be severely dehydrated, hypothermic and underweight. She received prompt treatment and in three days put on 67g and was back to good health just a little underweight.
“Due to being in imminent danger in the location she was found, it was decided she would go to Jon's garden which was very hedgehog friendly and safe for her.
“Jon and his wife were also support feeding their hedgehog population, which is wonderful, especially with the current drought.
"We advocate for every sick or injured hedgehog found, to be taken straight to a vet. This is because vets are equipped to quickly diagnose, treat and prescribe medications that hedgehog casualties usually urgently need to improve their welfare and prevent suffering.”
Published: 11/08/2026
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Electricity man Jon Gray found the dehydrated and malnourished hedgehog by “pure chance” when maintaining the electricity substation in Colchester earlier this month during a heatwave.
Understanding that hedgehogs are vulnerable to extinction in the UK, he removed the “shaking” animal and immediately took it to a hedgehog hospital.
After being looked over by the Hedgehog Friendly Vet Practice in Brantham, Suffolk, Leccy was given back to Jon who looked after the animal in his own back garden where it spent two days re-acclimatising and getting back on its feet with ample food and water in its own special pen.
On advice from the hedgehog hospital Jon left the pen door open for her to wander off back into the wild.
Jon said: "When I attended the substation, colleagues told me they had found a hedgehog trapped inside.
"It was clear she was in poor condition, undernourished and dehydrated, and it was pure luck she was discovered when she was. She was a very hungry hog!
“I carefully removed her and took her to a specialist hedgehog-friendly vet in Brantham, where she was taken into critical care. The team there named her ‘Leccy’ and she made an amazing recovery. She gained weight, rehydrated and looked much healthier.”
Jon released Leccy last Thursday and said: “It's fantastic to know she’s back in the wild now!"
"We're proud to have played a small part in Leccy's recovery and to work with organisations that share our commitment to protecting animals."
Registered veterinary nurse Lesley, from the Hedgehog Friendly Vets Team said: “Leccy was collected within an hour to prevent her being in a stressful environment.
“She was found to be severely dehydrated, hypothermic and underweight. She received prompt treatment and in three days put on 67g and was back to good health just a little underweight.
“Due to being in imminent danger in the location she was found, it was decided she would go to Jon's garden which was very hedgehog friendly and safe for her.
“Jon and his wife were also support feeding their hedgehog population, which is wonderful, especially with the current drought.
"We advocate for every sick or injured hedgehog found, to be taken straight to a vet. This is because vets are equipped to quickly diagnose, treat and prescribe medications that hedgehog casualties usually urgently need to improve their welfare and prevent suffering.”
Published: 11/08/2026
Back to news