Dramatic pictures of navy sailors rescuing 4 cats from boat off Thai coast

NEAR THE ISLAND OF KO ADANG, THAILAND: Thai navy rescue four domestic cats from sea after their boat sinks. What looks like a small commercial boat caught fire and began sinking. On board were the human sailors and 2 ginger cats and 2 torties (probably related). The eight crew members abandoned their boat and were rescued but they appear to have abandoned their cats too! 

Dramatic pictures of navy sailor rescuing 4 cats from boat off Thai coast.
Image credit: per image.

First-class Petty Officer Wichit Pukdeelon noticed the cats at the front of the boat. The fire had engulfed the back. He used his camera to zoom in on the boat and noticed their heads popping up.

A colleague, Thatsaphon Saii, 23, from the Royal Thai Navy's Air and Coastal Defence Command Operation Unit 491, swam out to the sinking boat to rescue the cats. The boat was 50 feet away. The boat had capsized and the cats were huddled at the bow. 

He brought the cats back on his shoulder. His colleagues reeled him in using a rope.

Dramatic pictures of navy sailor rescuing 4 cats from boat off Thai coast. Credit: see above.

Thatsaphon said: "When we arrived it was to secure the wreckage and check for oil spills. But we noticed the cats onboard. I immediately took off my shirt and put on a life jacket so I could jump into the sea. The flames were at the back of the boat but it was starting to sink, so I knew I had to be quick."

The rescued cats on dry land and being fed. I have added the words. Pic: Facebook.

He said that he was very relieved to have saved the cats. They would have certainly died.

The cats are being cared for by their crew members at their command station on the island of Koh Lipe.

The wreckage will be salvaged to protect marine wildlife.