A navy sailor saved four drowning kitties in the seas of Thailand.
Thatsaphon Saii, 23, got an emergency call on Tuesday, March 2, warning him of a burning fishing boat wreckage in Satun. Saii immediately jumped into the water to help.
Each one of the 8 crew members managed to escape the fire thanks to a fishing boat that happened to be passing. But 4 frightened kitties were left to die, and they almost drowned.
In the video and pictures from the incident, the cats can be seen having jumped on the bow squished next to each other as the vessel slowly goes down.
Saii swiftly swam towards the wreckage and put the three animals into an old rice sack, with one holding on to his shoulder. In the meantime, the fire kept on burning down the boat.
Thankfully, the cats were not injured and Saii was able to swim back to his boat without issues. The fishing boat was left to burn and sink near the Koh Adang island.
In an interview for the Royal Thai Navy’s Air and Coastal Defence Command Operation Unit 491, Thatsaphon said:
“When we arrived it was to secure the wreckage and check for oil spills. But we noticed the cats onboard. I immediately took off my shirt and put on a life jacket so I could jump into the sea. The flames were at the back of the boat but it was starting to sink, so I knew I had to be quick.”
He went on to say:
“I’m so relieved that we were able to save the kittens. They would have drowned or died of thirst if they went into the sea.”
After the incident, the terrified cats were given water as they were cared for on the boat.
None of them were physically harmed.
They are now being looked after by navy personnel while a search is underway to find them a loving new home.
Satun Governor Ekarat Lishen said:
“The oil tank in the sunken ship is vulnerable to leaking, which will cause damage to coral reefs or collect on the sea surface. We’re now working with related agencies to contact and coordinate with the ship owners to find a way to salvage the wreckage.”
See the video of the cats being rescued by clicking below.
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