Purrrfect flood rescue: Kitten saved after 30 hours in tree

EMERGENCY services were called to the rescue of a kitten, stranded in a tree for more than 30 hours in the Wilson River.

Wilson the kitten, rescued from a tree in the flooded Wilson River at Lismore. Picture: Cathy Adams

The Lismore SES and the Fire and Rescue Service combined forces for an unusual flood rescue today.

The crews launched an SES boat to go to the aid of a tiny black and white kitten, stranded up a tree in the flooded Wilsons River in Lismore near the double bridges.

Locals were first alerted the kitten’s plight when they heard a faint meowing.

They finally spotted the kitten curled up in the branches of a tree, surrounded by flood water, about 20m from shore.

The kitten had been stuck in the tree for more than 30 hours.

Rescuing Wilson

VIEW GALLERY

Help was called for, and the cavalry arrived in orange and blue uniforms. They launched a boat and climbed amongst trees, cutting branches to reach the kitten.

SES crews called it an unusual rescue, and not something they had dealt with in this flood event.

It was, they said, “quite rewarding”.

The kitten was named Wilson after its ordeal and was taken to the Keen Street Veterinary Clinic for a check-up.