Cat lives thanks to firefighter's mouth-to-mouth resuscitation

Firefighter Al Machado rescued a cat from a burning apartment Tuesday in New Bedford, Mass, telling the Standard-Times, that he began performing mouth-to-mouth as he carried it outside because, "it really needed air and it couldn't wait."

Video shot at the scene, posted above, shows Machado bent over, breathing into the cat's mouth.

The cat, a tiger angora, was revived and resting comfortably soon after.

Asked what it tasted like to give mouth-to-mouth to a cat, Machado laughed, grimaced and said: "Like fur."

No one was injured in the fire,  but firefighters struggled to save a group of trapped animals. The blaze was called in by the third-floor tenant, the only person in the building at the time, who escaped with his dog.

The first-floor tenant's pets all were saved: two dogs, three cats, a chinchilla, a ferret and some frogs.

On the second floor, two pit bulls were saved with the help of oxygen from paramedics and animal rescue officers, but two cats died in the apartment, which had heavy damage, especially in a bedroom area where fire officials said the blaze started.

The third cat was saved by Machado, who was praised by District Chief Michael Brodeur as a dog lover who doesn't hesitate when an animal needs help.

--Francisco Vara-Orta

Comments

[Cynthia]

This is a beautiful video thank you for publicizing it. And thanks to the firefighters and animal rescue officers who saved that cat (and most of the other animals in the apartment building). They went beyond the call of duty to help animals in need.

[Brien Comerford]

Great work by this public servant to go beyond the call of duty to save a hapless feline.

[George and Emilies grandma]

Fireman Machado, you're a true hero. As an animal lover, I thank you for having the heart to do what you did. We need more people like you. I think you have probably earned a special place in Heaven, and Gods favor for saving one of his innocents.

[shasha]

this is really touching. may god bless that fireman!!

[Michael]

HI, yes it is nice, really nice to see people behaving tenderly and humanely towards animals. This act came naturally to the fireman Machado so he is a tender loving person I would expect.

Animal lovers like to see this. Why do we call ourselves animal lovers as if the world is divided into animal lovers and the rest, some of whom are animal haters? What is there in an animal to hate? All they do is act naturally and what is natural shouldn't be hated.

Michael