This is the incredible moment that a sailor hero carried on his back a terrified kitten, one of four he rescued from a burning ship off the coast of Thailand.
Thatsaphon Saii, 23, went into action when he realized the cats had been left aboard the boat surrounded by fire after his eight crew members were evacuated on Tuesday near the island of Koh Adang. , as reported by The Sun.
The Royal Thai Navy sailor went to sea to rescue the petrified kittens – who were clinging to a fishing crane – from the furious hell.
Saii put three of them in an old sack of rice and carried one on his shoulder before swimming about 50 feet safely.
“When we arrived it was to secure the wreckage and check for oil spills,” he said. “But we noticed the cats on board. I immediately took off my shirt and put on a life jacket so I could jump into the sea.
He continued: “The flames were in the back of the boat, but it was starting to sink, so I knew it had to be fast. I’m so relieved that we were able to save the kittens. “
Miraculously, the kittens were not injured, but they were dehydrated and given fresh water aboard the Navy ship, UK Metro reported.
Navy officials care for furry survivors as they prepare to be adopted.
The eight crew – five Burmese and three Thais – were rescued by a passing fishing boat.