A frightened cat was rescued after being stranded 70 feet up in a tree for three days during heavy thunderstorms.
Phil and Jodie Bottle became alarmed when their one-year-old tortoiseshell cat, Winnie, suddenly disappeared on Saturday (5 Oct).
It wasn’t until yesterday (8 Oct) that Phil and their daughter, Isla, discovered her clinging to a tree near their home in Hythe, Kent.
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Despite their efforts to coax her down, Winnie was too scared to move due to the ongoing stormy weather.
Thankfully, tree surgeon Patrick Hopkins answered their call for help.
After seeing Jodie’s appeal on Facebook, Patrick drove 20 miles from Dover to assist.
Armed with a ladder that only reached a few feet due to the steep, muddy slope, he then relied on ropes to climb the remaining 20 feet up the tree.
He spent an hour carefully convincing the frightened feline to come down, finally reaching her and bringing her safely to the ground.
Phil expressed his gratitude to VKNews24 today (9 Oct), saying: “That man deserves a medal. It’s moments like these that really restore your faith in people.”
Phil added that Patrick’s selflessness was truly inspiring. “I know he’s a professional, but he still put himself in a risky situation to save Winnie.
When I offered to pay him for his time, he flat-out refused. He just wanted to help. His kindness is something my family and I will never forget.”
Patrick modestly reflected on the event, saying: “I’m just glad I could help. Winnie was right at the top of the tree, and after a bit of gentle persuasion, she finally came to me.
It took around an hour, but it was absolutely worth it. She’s such a sweet cat, and she must have been terrified being stuck up there for so long.”
Winnie is now back home safe, and her family is deeply thankful for the unexpected heroism from a kind stranger.
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