ABC LtoR Ranger Brett McNamara and Cameron Blaseotto hold the platypus that hitched a ride in Cameron's car, before releasing it at Angle Crossing, Canberra, on October 10, 2013.A platypus that hitched a 15-kilometre ride wedged inside a car engine has been released back into a Canberra creek.
The female platypus became stuck in the engine of Cameron Blaseotto's utility when he drove through the flooded Murrumbidgee River at Angle Crossing in Canberra's south.
When Mr Blaseotto arrived at his Gilmore home, he heard scratching noises under the bonnet.
He first thought it might have been a possum, but to his amazement, he popped the hood to find a platypus stuck in the engine bay.
Remarkably, the critter - now nicknamed Hilux - was uninjured.
ACT ranger Brent McNamara says it is an extraordinary tale of survival.
"There's just so many dangers in terms of moving parts within an engine bay, there's nothing much to hang onto - platypus have claws," he said.
"How this animal was able to climb up inside, hang on, and then drive all the way back into Canberra is a truly remarkable story. One of a kind, a one in a million event."
In fact ACT rangers were dubious about the truth of the story when they first received a call from Mr Blaseotto on Wednesday night.
"How this animal actually got inside the engine bay in the first place is remarkable. The vehicle was traversing Angle Crossing, the water level was up a little bit," Mr McNamara said.
"The animal somehow swam up and somehow climbed up the tyre perhaps and got inside."
The platypus has this morning been released back into the waterway.
"I'd like to think that it's heading back to its burrow to tell a remarkable and fascinating tale of adventure about coming into the nation's capital," Mr McNamara said.
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