A tawny owl returns to the wild after being hit by an ambulance

An injured owl was released after hitting the roof of an ambulance.

Gilbert, the tawny owl, was left stunned after the collision on the A361 near South Newington, Oxfordshire, a few weeks ago.

South Central Ambulance Service said its crew called a vet out of hours and provided what3words with Gilbert’s exact location, which meant he received the care he needed as quickly as possible.

The vet confirmed that Gilbert had made a “full recovery” and was released into the wild.

Gilbert was mid-flight when he hit an ambulance returning to base during the night shift.

What3Words is a free mobile phone application that allows you to find a unique three-word phrase every three square meters of the world.

It is used by over 85% of the UK’s emergency services.