It’s always comforting to have a faithful pet by your side, especially when animals’ natural instincts kick in to help during emergencies. Such was the case with a clever cat who played a vital role in saving his 83-year-old owner after she fell into a dangerous ravine.
On August 14, police in Bodmin, England, began searching for an elderly woman who had been reported missing in the area. They soon got a helpful lead from an unexpected source.
A local resident heard a cat meowing persistently at the edge of a large maize field. As she investigated, the neighbor recognized the cat, named Piran, as belonging to the missing woman. Realizing that the cat might be trying to communicate something, the neighbor quickly understood that Piran was trying to show them the location of his owner.
The woman had indeed fallen into a steep ravine near her home. She had slipped around 70 feet down an embankment with rough terrain that made access extremely difficult.
“The elderly female had fallen approximately 70 feet down a very steep embankment, with incredibly difficult access and uneven terrain,” the Bodmin Police shared.
Once the woman’s whereabouts were confirmed, rescue teams from Bodmin Police and Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service sprang into action. They worked together to pull the woman from the ravine and lift her to safety.
After being rescued, she was airlifted to the hospital by the Cornwall Air Ambulance. Thankfully, she was in stable condition and, according to updates, remained in good spirits as she continued receiving medical care.
“It’s a massive ‘well done’ to all the emergency services who worked together and to Piran,” the neighbor who discovered the cat told the BBC. “The outcome could have been a lot worse.”
These abusers are facing numerous charges of animal abuse, but we must also ensure they never own or interact with pets again and receive counseling for their twisted psychological states.
Though emergency services executed the rescue, Piran is rightfully receiving praise for his role in saving his owner’s life. Given the woman’s age and the secluded spot where she fell, the situation could have ended tragically if not for Piran’s sharp instincts.
Bodmin Police celebrated Piran’s heroic actions on Facebook, declaring, “Piran the cat saved the day!”