By Ed Chatterton via SWNS
Fire crews were called to rescue a hapless cat after he became stuck between two houses – in a gap just 8cm (3ins) wide.
The black and white puss used up one of its nine lives after getting firmly trapped between the walls of the properties in Bromsgrove, Worcs., on Tuesday (21/5).
Neighbour Louise Gossage phoned the fire brigade after the homeowners heard the cat – called Cat – crying at around 5.30 pm and found him wedged in the gap.
Firefighters used drilling tools in at attempt to reach the stricken feline but struggled to get through the thick brickwork of the garage extension.
Louise then ran to find a builder who lived nearby and he brought along a heavy-duty saw which helped the crews make a hole through the wall.
After about an hour, they then managed to grab Cat and bring him back to safety and he was reunited with his relieved owner miraculously unharmed.
Mum-of-one Louise, 39, said: “My neighbors came around to say they had found this cat stuck down the side of the house as they know I have a cat of my own.
“I went and had a look and immediately knew it would be a job for the fire service as there was no way we were going to get him out of there.
“The gap was tiny, we don’t know how or when he got in there but we later found out he had been missing since 5.30 am so my guess would be he was there all day.
“Fire crews were there within five minutes and they used drilling tools to try and get to him from the inside.
“My job was pretty much to comfort him. I was telling him ‘You’re alright darling’ and shining a torch in his eyes to keep his head up and looking at me.
“My heart was in my mouth as they were drilling next to his head, you can imagine how loud that was for him.
“A crowd of local residents had gathered to watch the drama unfold and when they were struggling to get through the thick brick I ran to try and find a builder.
“A kind man named Russell came and leant a hand with a heavy-duty saw and together they managed to make a hole and grab him.
“In the meantime, we had gone around knocking on neighbors’ doors to see if we could find out who he belonged to.
“Eventually this lady said it belonged to her. She was advised to take him to the vets to be checked over but apart from being covered in rubble, he seemed OK.
“We were all very thankful and appreciative of the firefighters’ determination. They did a brilliant job, as did Russell.
“Personally, I think Cat should be renamed Lucky.”
A Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “A crew from Bromsgrove Fire Station was called at 17:32 on 21 May to the rescue of a small animal in Bromsgrove.
“A cat, which was stuck between two houses, was rescued using small tools with the assistance of a local builder before being left in the care of its owners.
“Once freed, we left the cat in the care of the owner and the incident was marked as pending closure at 19:05.”
