Cat who survived 380-foot fall from canyon gets adopted by rescuer

By Ben Barry

A cat that miraculously survived a 380ft fall that killed her owners has been adopted by the pilot who rescued her.

In April, Matthew Nannen, 45, Bailee Crane, 58, and their pet Mirage went over railings at the Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah.

Tourists alerted rangers who found their bodies.

The search and rescue pilot, Chelsea Tugaw, who was on duty that day, noticed what looked like a dusty backpack, but it turned out to be a soft-sided pet carrier with Mirage inside.

The cat suffered two broken ribs and smashed teeth, but is being nursed back to health at Best Friends Animal Society's Sanctuary, in Kanab, Utah.

Now, Chelsea has adopted Mirage.

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Chelsea said: “We couldn’t believe the cat was alive.

“I thought she was injured, and I 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.”

When Mirage recovered, the sanctuary reached out to the family of Mirage's late owners, who said they weren't able to adopt her themselves.

After noticing a "special connection" between herself and Mirage, Chelsea returned to the sanctuary to adopt the cat and bring her home.

Chelsea said: I felt there was a special connection with us rescuing her.

“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.

"I just hope she knows she’s going to a really loving home.”