An opera singer riding his bike to a rehearsal of a new opera last month ended up in a hospital instead of the Helsinki Opera House after a squirrel jumped into his bicycle spokes.

Esa Ruuttunen suffered a concussion and a broken nose from the accident. The squirrel did not survive.

Ruuttunen had been on his way to a rehearsal for the Finnish opera Kaarmeen hetki (Hour of the Serpent) when he collided with the squirrel. The opera had its world premiere September 15, and it's hoped that Ruuttunen will be well enough to take part as planned.

Finnish National Opera spokeswoman Heidi Almi told Reuters, "He is not yet singing in rehearsals, but thinks he will be able to perform at the world premiere."