Cat survives ravages of fire

AMID squeals of delight, a much-loved family cat was pulled from the charred debris of an Ipswich flat today by a firefighter on his very last shift.Mrs and Mrs Baker, together with their 15-year-old daughter Hayley and other cat Tiggy, had managed to escape the fire that broke out at a neighbouring flat.

AMID squeals of delight, a much-loved family cat was pulled from the charred debris of an Ipswich flat today by a firefighter on his very last shift.

Mrs and Mrs Baker, together with their 15-year-old daughter Hayley and other cat Tiggy, had managed to escape the fire that broke out at a neighbouring flat.

But Kizzy, who was only just a year old, was still missing more than 12 hours later.

But luckily Firefighter Eddie Barber, 55, who is due to retire at midnight today, hearing the cat's forlorn miaows came to the rescue.

Looking in the kitchen – some of which had escaped the fire - he noticed the cat stuck underneath fallen debris.

Mr Barber said: "I was up there checking for hotspots when I heard the cat miaowing. It was in the kitchen underneath debris. Luckily, I managed to rescue it."

Mr Barber, who has been a firefighter for 18 and a half years, carried down the cat – much to the delight of the Baker family.

Graham Baker, 47, of Downside Close, said: "I am so happy that the cat is safe – but not as happy as my wife will be."

June Baker, 44, came running back to the flat after hearing that Kizzy was safe. She said: "Now that Kizzy has been found, I am the happiest woman in the world. My family is complete again. Whatever anyone says, Kizzy was a member of this family."