A hedgehog died in agony after apparently being spray-painted blue to resemble video game character Sonic the Hedgehog. The creature was found by a farmer in a field behind Wakefield Police Station in West Yorkshire, with horrific chemical burns across its back.
The blue substance had reportedly burned through several layers of the animal's skin, leaving its spines falling out. The male hedgehog was rushed to Castleford Hedgehog Rescue at around 4pm on Tuesday (October 27), but despite desperate attempts to save its life, it died the following morning.
Screaming in pain on arrival
Beth Campsill, 29, who runs the rescue centre, said the animal was in so much agony that it was screaming when it arrived. She told the Wakefield Express: "When the hedgehog was brought to us he was screaming in pain."
"I gave the poor thing the maximum pain relief I could, but he didn't stop, he effectively screamed himself to death. I don't know how anyone could be so cruel to an animal. It is disgusting. I haven't seen anything as bad or as sad as this in a long time."
Cause of death and additional suffering
Campsill, who has worked with hedgehogs for 16 years, believes the animal died from an infection caused by the chemical burns, although toxins in the paint may also have contributed. The hedgehog was also suffering from flystrike, a condition in which flies lay eggs in wounds before the hatching maggots begin feeding on the animal's flesh.
Campsill said the animal would have faced a slow and agonising death had it not been rescued. She added: "I'm glad he was brought in as it meant at least we could ease his suffering and make him feel comfortable."
Investigation and next steps
Some people responding to the rescue centre's Facebook post suggested the blue substance could have been an antiseptic spray commonly used on livestock. However, Campsill believes it was spray paint because of its thick consistency and the severe damage inflicted on the hedgehog's skin. She said she had to scrape the substance from the animal's remaining spines, with many having already fallen out.
The rescue worker plans to report the incident to police, although it remains unclear who was responsible or whether the hedgehog was deliberately painted to resemble the iconic Sega character.
