Disaster relief hero performs mouth-to-mouth CPR on cat in dramatic video
This cat might just prove there’s something to that whole nine lives thing.
A new viral video from Spain captures a disaster relief worker successfully reviving a motionless feline through mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
The kitten — whose sex hasn’t been disclosed — became caught up in the Cumbre Vieja volcanic eruption on the island of La Palama last week. The animal was found unconscious at the edge of a lava flow after being overwhelmed by smoke and ash.
Cpl. Juan Carlos Nunez, who serves in the Spanish Armed Forces, stepped in to help the cat by employing cardiopulmonary resuscitation maneuvers. A friend was on hand to film the episode.
In the heartwarming footage, Nunez is seen blowing into the cat’s mouth through a plastic filter.
For almost a minute, the feline fails to move and it looks as if the resuscitation effort has failed. However, a persistent Nunez refuses to give in and begins pressing on the kitty’s chest while continuing mouth-to-mouth movements. Slowly, the cat starts to stir and is eventually brought back to consciousness.
Nunez and his team took the feline to a local veterinarian, who is currently helping animals affected by the ongoing eruption.
But the rescue worker was unable to forget the cat whose life he helped safe, and he soon returned to adopt it.
Nunez has now named the feline Laguna after the town of La Laguna, which has seen hundreds of houses destroyed by the volcano.
Adorable video filmed following Laguna’s adoption shows the cute kitty is well and truly on the mend.
The ongoing Cumbre Vieja eruption began in mid-September, and has reportedly seen 7,000 people evacuated and has covered 1,656 acres in lava.
Over 1,100 buildings have been destroyed by the lava flow, which has completely engulfed the town of Todoque.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has traveled to the island multiple times since the eruption began.
“Unfortunately, the news we have from the scientific committee is that the volcano’s activity is not decreasing, so a reduction in its activity is not foreseeable in the coming days,” Sánchez stated during a recent visit.
“I know it is tough after so many days and nights of suffering, but I ask you to remain patient because we can not do anything until the volcano stops.”
His government has pledged €214 million ($247 million) to help rebuild homes, farms and businesses in the effected area.
Meanwhile, some experts say the volcanic eruption could last 84 days — or close to three months.
On Wednesday, one Spanish politician proposed bombing the volcano as lava continued to spill out for the 38th day.
