An engineer from a helicopter who took apart a car to save an eight-week-old kitten in distress said that there was “no way”He could have left it behind.
Adam Hughes, an engineer at Leonardo Helicopters, was returning from work at the Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose in Cornwall when he stumbled upon a kitten on the runway.
The kitten was then taken to the veterinarians for an emergency operation to amputate her left leg. She is currently recovering at the centre (Cats Protection/PA).
Hughes had just lost his pet cat, and noticed that the tiny stray was limping.
“I was going home to comfort my family because we had lost our own cat Orlando to renal failure the day before,”He said.
“He had been a much-loved part of the family and really helped my daughter’s mental health during lockdown.
“There was no way I was going to leave a potentially injured kitten behind.”
However, as Mr Hughes and two junior aircrew approached the small grey-brown tabby, it jumped onto the exhaust pipe of a nearby Volkswagen Golf and ran into the car’s engine chamber.
The car’s owner, who was in a nearby hangar gave Mr Hughes permission to dismantle the car and a passing lorry driver offered his tools to help.
After removing turbo charger and pipework, and then jacking up the car to remove base panels, the kitten found its way into a tiny space between wheel arch and liner.
The kitten, eight weeks old, was found in a small hole between the wheel arch of a Volkswagen Golf and its liner (Martyn Collick/PA).
Hughes stated: “Luckily it was an older car so we could peel the liner back and when we did one of the aircrew was able to reach in to get hold of the kitten’s tail and unharmed back leg.
“Very gently, but with much squealing from the kitten, we were able to get her out.”
“I rang my wife Helen and daughter Lucy and asked them to get Orlando’s cat box ready because I was bringing home an injured kitten.”
The family called the Cats Protection’s Cornwall Adoption Centre for help, having adopted Orlando from the centre 11 years previously.
The kitten was then taken to the emergency room to have her leg amputated. She is currently doing well at the centre.
The kitten was named Fergie by the adoption team, in honor of the airbase where she was discovered and the Budgie The Little Helicopter books by Sarah Ferguson, Duchess.
Fergie was named by the Cats Protection Cornwall Adoption Centre team (Cats Protection/PA).
Samantha Lawton from the Cats protection stated that it would have happened “unlikely”The kitten would not have survived if Mr Hughes hadn’t intervened to save it.
“We’re so grateful to Adam and everyone who helped save Fergie,”Ms Lawton spoke.
“She will have been in a lot of pain with her leg and it’s unlikely she would have survived without Adam’s help.
“Little Fergie is now with an experienced fosterer and learning how to walk as a tripod, or three-legged, cat and how to play with fishing rod toys, ping-pong balls and toy mice.
“She has a long journey ahead of her, but has already shown she is a brave fighter and is beginning to really enjoy being among people and home-comforts.”
Fergie will be neutered, vaccinated and microchipped while in care then once she is fully healed and ready for homing her details will be posted on the centre’s website.
To contribute to the cost of Fergie’s vet care, surgery and after-care, visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/cats-protection-cornwall-acfergiesappeal