Firefighter Rod Stuart is reminding Londoners to make the RSPCA their first point of call after he rescued a cat stuck in ducting on Haydon Park Road in Wimbledon yesterday (November 13).
The cat, named Ty, went missing from its home nearby on Friday and a neighbour could hear a cat crying inside some metal ducting which was covered in ivy on the side of an outbuilding.
The neighbour called the Brigade and firefighters were able to cut away at the ducting to safely remove the cat.
Watch manager Jim Leach, who was at the scene, said: “We would always urge people to contact the RSPCA if they see an animal stuck or in distress. If the RSPCA require our assistance, they will call us and we are happy to assist with our specialist equipment.
“In this instance, a neighbour called us as there was a risk that any rescuer could have been injured without proper protection and equipment. Thankfully my crew, including firefighter Rod Stuart, were able to rescue the cat quickly and reunited him with his owner.
“The work of a firefighter is so much more than just attending fires. Every day crews across London are called to a range of incidents including road traffic collisions and floodings, and firefighters also do lots of preventative work within the community to help stop fires from starting in the first place.”
The Brigade was called at 1417 and the incident was over for firefighters at 1448. One fire engine from Wimbledon fire station attended the scene.