Kitten saved in miraculous 10m tree fall at Brahma Lodge: Firefighter’s ‘catch of the century’

A firefighter is being hailed a hero after he caught a kitten falling 10m from a tree in the northern suburbs. Here’s how the rescue had a purr-fect ending for the frightened feline.

Firefighter Matthew Hodder has battled blazes and seen much more than the everyday person might in his 13 years as a MFS firey.

But when he received a call out last Friday to rescue a kitten stranded 10 metres up a tree, he didn’t expect to be heralded a hero.

Mr Hodder was touted as a hero after a video emerged on social media of him catching a kitten when it jumped from a treetop at Brahma Lodge.

The footage showed Mr Hodder and a RSPCA volunteer holding a blanket ready to catch the frightened feline but when the kitten was startled by another firefighter trying to rescue it, Mr Hodder had to act quickly.

Angle Park MFS firefighter Matthew Hodder saved the day when he caught a kitten which jumped from a tree last Thursday. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

“The cat got startled basically and ran off and did a big jump and I managed to catch it luckily,” Mr Hodder said.

MFS crews attended the reserve on the corner of Cross Keys Rd and Barnstaple Rd after receiving a call from an onlooker who saw the kitten weave through traffic and scurry up the tree.

A former footballer at Woodville South, Mr Hodder said his playing days may have helped him bring the kitten down safely.

“It was a bit of a fumble but I managed to catch it,” he said.

“It was back to the footy days I guess – when you see the ball coming you chase it.”

Mr Hodder said he attended three or four cat rescue call outs a year but none had ended quite so spectacularly before.

RSPCA spokesperson Carloyn Jones praised Mr Hodder’s sporting prowess and quick reflexes.

“It is one of those heart-stopping moments … I think Matt might have missed his vocation here because that really was quite the catch of the century,” Ms Jones said.

A kitten was miraculously rescued by an MFS firefighter when it fell 10m from a tree. Picture: RSPCA SA

A kitten was miraculously rescued by an MFS firefighter when it fell 10m from a tree. Picture: RSPCA SA

The kitten is now recovering at the RSPCA’s Lonsdale shelter. Picture: RSPCA SA

“I think the MFS firefighters are reluctant heroes and I suspect that Matt is quite a reluctant hero but certainly to us at the RSPCA he is a hero.

“I’m sure if this kitten could talk he would also say that Matt is most definitely hero status.”

Ms Jones said the RSPCA had over 700 cats and kittens available for adoption.

Mr Hodder said there had been some playful banter in the fire station after the video went viral, inlcuding the occasional ‘meow’ but he was glad the kitten was safe and well.

“I’m just glad the cat was all right … and I hope it finds a nice home.”

The kitten is recovering at the RSCPA’s Lonsdale shelter after it miraculously suffered only a small cut to the leg and will be available for adoption when it has fully recovered.