A little cat named Peach miraculously saved its owner from freezing to death during a harsh blizzard
Adopting a pet means getting unwavering loyalty and unconditional love in exchange. This cannot be truer for Vladislav Duda who was one of the many Ukrainians who have risked their lives trying to escape the war in the harsh conditions of the mountains. During the journey, he encountered a powerful snowstorm and slipped into a deep ravine. The man would have died from the harsh condition had it not been for his furry friend a cat who kept him warm until he was found by a rescue team.
The 28-year-old had left his home in Kharkiv region more than a week ago with his furry orange friend, called Peach. Due to the powerful storm, he slipped into a 400-meter (437-yard) deep ravine. Thankfully he wasn't alone and Peach tried its best to keep him warm. "The cat was warm and was warming him… so he saved his life," later explained Dan Benga, director of the Maramures mountain rescue service. When the rescuers located him, they unzipped his jacket and discovered Peach who was snuggled inside. "I'm happy because my cat is alive. I got a chance from God for a new life. The happiest moment is because the cat is here with me," Benga recalled Duda saying.
A first attempt to save him was made via helicopter but was aborted due to the extreme weather conditions which hampered visibility to quite an extent. Then it was upon the ground rescuers to travel through the deep snow-filled terrain until they reached the pair. The ascent of the ravine took more than five hours and during the entire time, Peach was tightly gripped to his chest until the rescuers put him in the hospital.
He was soon taken to the hospital where he got anti-inflammatory medication and blood circulation treatment since he had a severe case of hypothermia. The tiny cat also was well taken care of by the veterinarians in Baia Mare. "What I remember is the fear of the unknown and the fear of not making it through the night alive," Vladislav said. "My Peach kept me alive. When escaping, we were afraid of everybody, not to be sent back to fight in a war that is not ours," via Associated Press. "I got a chance from God for a new life. The happiest moment is because the cat is here with me," Vladislav said. "It's like a dream, after all I have been through, I only hoped to be found and to survive," Duda told the AP. "Peach kept my heart warm, and he kept my faith alive," he later said while speaking to the Associated Press.
According to the director of the Maramures Mountain Rescue Service, many people, arrive through the mountains and usually they have no medical problems. The Wall Street Journal reported that over 44,000 Ukrainian men have fled since the beginning of the war to Romania, Moldova, and Slovakia, despite Ukraine prohibiting men between the ages of 18 and 60 from leaving the country.