KANGAROO discovered by AA mechanic in broken-down van in Pattingham
An AA mechanic called out to repair a broken-down Renault Kangoo was left shocked after finding a baby kangaroo on the passenger seat.
Andy Jones initially feared he was the victim of a wind-up when AA member Zachary Hollinshead, a zoo director, told him a pouch in his vehicle contained a marsupial.
Mr Jones came across the unusual cargo on Tuesday after being called out to the village of Pattingham in south Staffordshire to help a driver whose ignition key would not turn.
"I asked what was in the bag and when the member told me it was a kangaroo I thought he was joking," the AA patrolman said.
"I was a bit nervous at first, I was concerned about it jumping off the seat, but the member assured me it wouldn't as it stays close to him. I held it and stroked it, it was very tame."
The four-month old kangaroo, named Matilda, is one of a number of animals being cared for at the Wild Encounters zoological park in Bobbington, near Wolverhampton, which is due to open to the public this summer.
Mr Hollinshead, who is hand-rearing the kangaroo, said: "I was on my way to work when the ignition broke, so I was stranded in the middle of nowhere with animals and had to call the AA."
Other animals, which had been moved out of the van and collected by fellow zoo keepers prior to Mr Jones' arrival, included a young owl.
The AA's President, Edmund King, commented: "Our patrols come across the unexpected every day, but this case was certainly an unusual one and brings a new meaning to the term jump start!"
