Lifeboat goes to a trapped cat's rescue

A cat trapped on a rock groyne was plucked to safety by Sheringham lifeboat crew yesterday.

But the animal rescue did not have a happy ending, as it turned out to be the black cat's ninth life - and the pet had to be put down by a vet because of its general health condition.

The alarm was raised by the station's deputy launching authority Trevor Holsey who spotted the cat's plight being watched by a crowd on the beach near the breakwater opposite the Two Lifeboats pub.

Operations manager Brian Farrow said the boat was about to launch for its routine Sunday practice, so it was decided to combine it with trying to help the cat.

Senior helmsman Tony Webster said the crew managed to get close enough to the groyne to grab the cat which was being washed on an off by the surf, and was soaking wet, traumatised and “in a bad way” even after being give oxygen to revive it.

“Unfortunately when it was taken to the vet he said it was in poor condition with kidney problems, and had to put it down.”

The crew had helped stranded seal pups in the past, but it was an unusual rescue, and initially sparked fears that a catamaran had run aground, when it was reported there was a “cat on a groyne” he added.