Story By: Koen Berghuis, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: CEN

This is the duck dubbed ‘Duck Norris’ after surviving a collision with a car and being driven over 12 miles whilst stuck in the vehicle’s grille.

The driver, whose name was not reported, was driving between the cities of Schwerte and Hagen in the western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia when he collided with the duck.

Only after driving a further 12 miles to his home in Hagen did the driver suddenly spot the duck being stuck in between the number plate of his Toyota and the car’s grille.

Pictures Credit: CEN

The driver immediately freed the bird which appeared to be injured.

He put the bird on a meadow together with his wife, who saw that the duck ostensibly could not use its wings, upon which the couple called the local animal welfare organisation.

The organisation’s chairwoman Birgit Ganskow was shocked when she saw the pictures and realised the bird had been stuck in the grille for 12 miles.

She said: “What kind of fears the animal must have had? We cross our fingers and hope that the drake will get well again.”

Ganskow brought the injured duck to the Paasmuehle shelter for wild birds in the nearby town of Hattingen where the unfortunate animal was checked by a veterinarian.

Paasmuehle shelter chief Thorsten Kestner said: “The drake just has a few bruises and lost a few feathers, nothing was broken.

“That is for sure more than just luck. He is pretty tough.”

Local media immediately nicknamed the animal ‘Duck Norris’ after the American actor and martial artist Chuck Norris, 79.

Norris later became an internet meme telling tales of absurd stories of strength, power and endurance such as “Chuck Norris doesn’t turn on the shower, he stares at it until it starts to cry” or “when Chuck Norris crosses the street, cars look both ways for Chuck Norris”.

Duck Norris will remain for a few more days at Kestner’s shelter before the German bird carer will set him free again in a nearby pond.