As rescues go this was something out of the ordinary for the crew of Cowes RNLI lifeboat as they were ending an exercise today (Sunday).
Coastguards had been alerted to the fact that a cat was spotted trapped under a pontoon at East Cowes Marina. Anxious that the public could be at risk if they attempted a rescue, they asked the lifeboat to perform the task.
Cat sprang to freedom
On arrival the crew and marina staff managed to reach the beleaguered feline by partially dismantling the wooden structure.
The cat duly sprang to freedom, to continue its prowl of the surroundings; and the lifeboat crew – with not a scratch between them – was able to return to station, arriving at 2.32 pm.
As one wag commented – a rescue operation that was ‘just PURR-fect!’
Towed craft to Marina
But the lifeboat’s exercise had yet one more eventful twist to go……. As it was proceeding down-river it was hailed by the crew of a tender that had run of fuel. So the lifeboat assumed its rescue mode once again – towing the craft to Shepards Marina.
It finally arrived back at the lifeboat station at 3.22 pm.
Later the station was contacted by the grateful woman owner of the cat, who said she had been looking for the cat all night before hearing plaintive mewing from under the pontoon at 1 pm today.
News shared by George on behalf of Cowes RNLI. Ed
