Four cats rescued from a sinking ship

A Thai navy sailor braved choppy waters to launch a dramatic rescue effort to save four cats stranded on a sinking ship that had caught fire.

It was only when the navy was sent to check the vessel, near the island of Koh Adang, for an oil spill after rescuing all eight of the crew yesterday, that they discovered the cats had been forgotten. 

First-Class Petty Officer of the navy's air and coastal defence division said: 'I used my camera to zoom in to the boat, and I saw one or two cats popping their heads out.'

Thatsaphon Saii, 23, from the Royal Thai Navy's Air and Coastal Defence Command Operation Unit 491, in a life vest, swam 50ft out to the capsized boat, on which four ginger cats were huddled together clinging to a crane structure as the flames engulfed the boat. (Daily Mail)