Isle of Wight Ferry Captain Orders Kitten Rescue Mission

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A kitten on a ferry crossing to the largest island in England, the Isle of Wight, jumped overboard. At around 5:30 pm, several passengers on the Red Eagle ferry saw the kitten escape from a car it was traveling in. Then, it ran and jumped from the vehicle deck, falling into waters connecting to the English Channel.

The passengers quickly alerted the crew, who subsequently notified Captain Simon Brindle, reported the Island Echo. Immediately, the Captain ordered the ferry to halt its journey.

Image via Isle of Wight County Press

Then, the Captain gave orders for the crew to rescue the kitten, launching an inflatable boat from the ferry’s side. However, the tiny kitten was by now adrift in the channel called the Solent. 

Image via Isle of Wight Radio

Ferry Captain Orders Kitten Rescue Mission

As luck would have it, the crew spotted the kitten after searching around the ferry. Then, they managed to rescue it from the surf and bring it back to the ferry. According to eyewitnesses, the cat survived the harrowing ordeal.

Photo: Danny Grist via Island Echo

“Captain Simon Brindle stopped the vessel allowing Ben Gibson, Deck Mate, and Mark Holland, Deckhand, to deploy a rescue boat and successfully rescued him from the water bringing him safely back on board,” stated Red Funnel which has operated over 160 years.

Crew from the Red Eagle go out in a rescue boat

One Fluffly, Four-Legged Passenger Saved

Leanna Lakes, Operations Director at Red Funnel, expressed pride in the rescue mission:

“We are incredibly proud of our Captain and crew on the Red Eagle for acting fast and saving one of our fluffy, four-legged passengers, and thank them for their brave efforts yesterday.”

“We are happy to say that the cat was safely returned and is doing well.”

Red Funnel crew members Mark and Ben with the kitten following the successful rescue. Picture by Red Funnel.
Image via Isle of Wight Radio

That same day, the ferry service was dealing with cancellations and delays due to technical issues with another ferry called Red Falcon. However, they took the time to save one tiny kitten and made everyone proud. 

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