Mystery hero saves cat on 70-metre high roof

Amystery man has been hailed a hero after dramatically plucking a stranded cat to safety from the top of one of Montrose’s tallest buildings.

Concerns had been growing for the white and ginger moggy, trapped at the top of a 70-metre high former flour mill close to Alfred Street.

The stranded feline had been spotted crying from the window ledge in the dilapidated structure since January 27.

But with seemingly no way down and the building rendered unsafe for animal welfare officers to enter, fears were growing that the cat could soon perish.

However, as the situation became increasingly desperate, one Montrose man decided it was time to take the matter into his own hands.

Concerned residents watched on as he scaled the building via an access ladder as his daring highrise rescue got under way on Saturday afternoon.

But their fears soon turned to cheers when the man was witnessed lowering a cat basket with a rope just minutes later.

Speaking to The Courier after the dramatic mercy mission, the man, who asked not to be named, admitted the rescue was in fact his second attempt to bring the cat to safety.

“I’d scaled the building on Friday but I failed to get the cat into a basket,” he said.

“The poor thing was just a foot or so away but then disappeared inside the building.

“Because it was so unsafe I left food and reluctantly had to leave.”

However, frustrated by the lack of progress, the mystery rescuer was determined to make a second attempt 24 hours later.

“Initially it was too windy, especially given that the building is probably 70 metres high,” he said.

“But as the weather eased I sent up a drone which showed me that the cat was inside the cage I’d left up there.

“From then on there was no stopping me even though I admit it was a bit scary being so high up.

“I probably shouldn’t have even attempted to climb the building but I just felt compelled to give it my best shot.”

With the errant cat safely secured, the cage was then lowered to safety.

And his brave actions have been applauded by the animal’s owners.

“We’re delighted to have our cat down safe at last and in remarkably good condition considering its ordeal,” said the owner, who asked not to be identified.

“To have someone put their own safety at risk to rescue our cat really is amazing and we can’t begin to thank them enough.”

Nikki Broon, organiser of the Montrose Pets Lost and Found Facebook page, also applauded the audacious rescue, hailing the man “a hero”.

She said: “I witnessed the man as he scaled the building, amazed at such bravery. When we eventually saw the cage being lowered with the cat inside everyone watching was cheering and clapping.

“It was such a relief to see the cat after so long – it was a real hero’s effort.”

It was such a relief to see the cat after so long – it was a real hero’s effort

Tayside’s very own version of Spider-man has been hailed a hero after scaling a huge building to rescue a frightened feline.

The mystery man, whose identity is not being revealed, plucked the cat to safety over the weekend – almost three weeks after it was first spotted on its precarious perch atop the 70-metre high former flour mill building close to Alfred Street in Montrose.

Well done that man for his starring role in a dramatic story that surely represents the very definition of high drama.

SAFE AT LAST: The stranded cat was lowered in a cage from the roof of the former flour mill after being stuck for more than two weeks.