Pilot who rescued senior cat after owners’ fatal accident flew her again weeks later—but the second journey changed both their lives

The shelter staff reached out to the next of kin of the original owners to check if they would take the cat in.

PUBLISHED 12 HOURS AGO

(L) Pilot carrying patient on stretcher to helicopter, (R) Cat flying in the plane. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | (L)Keith Brofsky, (R) GummyBone)

A cat who miraculously survived a 400-foot fall was rescued by a pilot and transported to safety in a shelter home. Days later, she returned for a heartwarming reason that changed both their lives. Rescue pilot Chelsea Tugaw was informed about a devastating incident in Utah’s Bryce Canyon National Park, where two hikers had fallen from a clifftop and lost their lives in April this year. They were the original owners of the 12-year-old cat named Mirage. She was found in a carrier by the rescue team, including Tugaw, who then recovered the cat from the spot and saved her life. However, the future had much more in store for the duo.

Cat sitting on a pet carrier. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by owngarden)

Mirage was found alive in the exact spot where her original owners, Matthew Nannen, 45, and Bailee Crane, 58, took their last breaths. The rescue pilot could not believe the cat’s persistence for life. The carrier had tumbled down 380 feet from the peak of Inspiration Point after her owners crossed a safety line and fell. The cat was moved to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah. A month later, Tugaw made a decision and returned to the shelter to officially adopt Mirage as her own pet. “I'm so ecstatic to be taking Mirage home. I hope I can give her the perfect retirement life and let her be a nice lazy cat in her old age," she said, as per a release shared by Best Friends to PEOPLE.

A helicopter flying close to a mountain. Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Hans Neleman — A helicopter flying close to a mountain. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Hans Neleman)

Tugaw promised to give her the best life possible, full of love and comfort, and which will also be her “final” home. Before adoption, the shelter staff reached out to the next of kin of the original owners to check if they would take Mirage in. However, they conceded that it was best for the cat to find a new home and move on from her tragic past. The poor feline had endured too much and yet was friendly and calm when recovered from the extreme situation. Despite losing her owners and being surrounded by strangers, the rescuers were surprised by how “friendly” she was.

A woman hugging a black cat. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Westend 61)

"We couldn't believe the cat was alive. I thought she was injured and was uncertain of her future. It gave me a lot of comfort when I found out she was going to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary to get the help she needed,” Tugaw added. Though she was without injuries, the cat’s fur was matted, and her body sore. A thorough vet examination revealed that she had broken ribs and teeth, in addition to fluid around her heart from the “trauma” of the fall. The force that she is, Mirage recovered from it all in no time. The rescue shelter marked Mirage as a “living miracle” with a sweet nature and brave heart.

A person climbing a cliff. (Representative Image Source: Pexels | Davyd Bortnik)

According to a new report by 2KUTV, the cat owners lost their lives after climbing over the railing at a cliff on April 28 or April 29, 2025. Police have been unable to determine the definite cause of the fall. Nannen and Crane lived in Florida but spent most of their time in Arizona while living out of a U-Haul.