Cat 'stranded' on bridge for six days walks home after £5k rescue fails
'She is a bit skinny and smelly, very vocal and has now headed upstairs and put herself to bed,' owner says after creature wanders in
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A cat which was stuck on a bridge for six days wandered home hours after a £5,000 rescue mission was abandoned.
Hatty, a five-year-old Maine Coon-Serengeti cross, had been perched on a ledge of the Royal Albert Bridge, which connects Plymouth, in Devon, and Saltash, in Cornwall for almost a week.
Fire crews and the RSPCA rushed out to rescue her and Network Rail were even making arrangements to close the rail line over the bridge, known locally as the Brunel Bridge.
One rescuer scaled to the top and attempted to coax the feline out with cat treats. Onlookers tried to send food up with catapults.
But Hatty would not be budged and was last seen peering out from behind a crevice under the famous bridge.
Fire crews eventually called off the rescue - which costs the taxpayer about £500 an hour – at 5pm on Wednesday.
However, they vowed to return the next day.
Just a few hours after everyone left, Hatty clambered down and suddenly appeared at home – with evidence she had eaten a seagull to stave off the hunger.
Owner Kirsty Howden of Saltash, said she was “shocked and elated” that her beloved pet, who went missing from her home on 11 May, had returned.
“I was sitting responding to comments, heard a meow outside, had a look through the window and there she was," the 39-year-old mother of three said. “She is a bit skinny and smelly, very vocal and has now headed upstairs and put herself to bed.”
It is thought that, at a cost of about £500 an hour, the total bill for the rescue efforts was about £5,000.
But it appears as though the cat, whose owner says walked in like nothing had happened, didn’t need rescuing after all.
Hatty first hit headlines when a picture taken by Dawn Lapthorn, admin of Facebook page Plymouth UK Pets Lost and Found, emerged of her on the bridge.
Ms Howden thanked everyone who helped in the attempt to rescue Hatty, as well as those who offered support.
She said: “I’d like to thank Dawn for going above and beyond, Jim from the RSPCA for all his help, Saltash fire crew for all their efforts. I’d also like to thank the people who have followed Hatty’s story and the community in Saltash for rallying around, especially the ones who tried so hard to help get Hatty home.”
SWNS contributed to this report.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments