Firefighters rescue Bromley cat Chester from 20ft height after owner falls trying to retrieve it

Rescuing 10-month-old Chester from a tree branch in Harleyford, Upper Park Road, Bromley, took the services of two fire engines, the RSPCA, his owner and several neighbours.

London Fire Brigade (LFB) were first called out to the stranded feline on Sunday (August 23) after his owner tumbled from the tree when she was trying to rescue him and hurt her back.

Neighbours said despite firefighters’ efforts, Chester was beyond reach and they promised to return the following day with a bigger ladder leaving the incident in the hands of the RSPCA.

Fearing the cat would fall and with Chester’s owner in hospital, animal lover Val Saunders, of Dainton Close, set up camp beneath the tree in the torrential rain on Monday morning.

Fellow neighbour Henry Dom, a 58-year-old community resuscitation officer at London Ambulance Service, told News Shopper on Monday: “Val is camped underneath the tree in the pouring rain just in case the cat falls.

“She’s sat there on a chair with her breakfast.”

Chester the cat sat in the tree in Harleyford, Upper Park Road Bromley

Ms Saunders, 73, said: “I was soaking wet. The poor cat was soaking wet. He climbed up there at 4.30am Sunday morning.

“I love cats. It was distressing to see him up there - poor little animal.

“He kept climbing higher and higher.”

Some 30 hours after Chester had ascended the tree, a fire crew were finally able to bring him down.

Ms Saunders added: “He was like a drowned rat. He was a bit traumatised.

“I gave him lots of love, TLC and cuddled him until he fell asleep.

“It’s amazing how the firefighters did it - incredible work from them. One of them even came back when he was off-duty on Sunday night.”

Feline fine: Chester is healthy and happy after his rescue

LFB is urging people to think twice about calling 999 for animal rescues as new figures reveal it costs around £13,000 a month.

Firefighters attended 557 animal rescues in 2014/15 with 287 involving cats.

Feline foolish: Chester found himself in a bit of a predicament

LFB director of operations Dave Brown said: “We’ll always be there in an emergency but not all animal rescues need our help.

“As well as being time consuming, animal rescues cost the tax payer and I’m sure most people would prefer their money was being spent on training or fire prevention work, than cats up trees.

“If an animal is injured or in distress please call the RSPCA’s 24 hour helpline on 0300 1234 999 or go to www.rspca.org.uk.”

LFB pointed out it would always attend in a real emergency and that the RSPCA can contact firefighters if they are needed.

Firefighters are advising the public to keep an eye on their pets to avoid them getting into sticky situations and not to put themselves at risk to save an animal.

SEVEN BIZARRE ANIMAL RESCUES CARRIED OUT BY FIREFIGHTERS ACROSS LONDON

1. A chimp in a chimney in Tower Hamlets

2. A snake on the roof of a mosque in Camden

3. A fox with its head stuck in a bucket on a shed roof in Newham

4. A squirrel trapped on a satellite dish in Wandsworth

5. A hamster stuck in a fire place in Waltham Forest

6. A cat trapped in a letter box in Hounslow

7. A squirrel trapped in a bin in Wandsworth