A koala survived with barely a scratch after being dragged for almost nine miles with its head stuck in the grille of a car.

Named “Lucky Grilles” after his narrow escape, the eight-year-old is now recovering from his ordeal at a wildlife refuge.

“An examination showed that he was in good health and had no serious injuries,” spokeswoman Caroline Beaton of the Australian Animal Hospital said.

“It is quite miraculous.”

The lucky creature was found with his bottom sticking out of the grille of a woman’s car after she pulled up at a petrol station on the outskirts of Brisbane.

Earlier, the driver had noticed a koala in the road but drove on when she failed to see anything in her rear view mirror.

It was only when she stopped that the koala was spotted.

The koala is being kept for treatment for an infection he was found to have, but other than shock suffered no harm from the ride.

“Somehow the force of the impact propelled him through the grille. That sort of wedged him there,” Beaton added.

“That is why he didn’t come adrift. The rest of his body was dangling.”

Via news.sky.com