Lucky escape for koala after ‘sitting in middle of the road’

The driver stopped as soon as he hit something, and looked under his wheel arch to find a young koala looking back. Carina is now receiving ‘care, love and treatment’.

A koala had a miraculous escape after being struck by a car and getting stuck to its tyre — and coming out without serious injury.

It may also have been a stroke of fortune for Carina, the 18-month-old marsupial, as she was later diagnosed and treated for pneumonia.

Koala Rescue in South Australia posted Carina’s story to Instagram, saying rescuers were called around 1.15am on Saturday by a “distressed caller” who reported he had hit a koala and it was stuck on his car tyre.

They said: “As soon as the caller heard his car hit something, he immediately stopped to check and found Carina. He called KRI straight away for help.”

Carina was taken for assessment and diagnosed with pneumonia. Picture: Instagram / @ koala_rescue

Carina would only have just separated from the protection of her mother, Koala Rescue said, and was “sitting in the middle of the road”.

The organisation said: “Carina was given a quick checkover and found to have no major injuries.

“She was taken to AKAWC for full assessment later that morning and while free from any serious injuries she was diagnosed with pneumonia and is now in care receiving warmth, love and treatment.

“If Carina hadn’t been hit by a car and the driver hadn’t called KRI and she hadn’t gone to AKAWC - she wouldn’t now be safe and receiving treatment.”

Originally published as Lucky escape for koala after ‘sitting in middle of the road’