Cat rescued from giant fir by climbing tree surgeon

Tree surgeon rescuer Seth Masters said he was happy to be able to help Princess and her owner Sonia Wilkinson

A cat who got stuck up a towering 60ft (18.2m) tree in strong winds has been rescued by a tree surgeon.

Princess was saved by Seth Masters from a King's Lynn-based firm when the giant fir started to sway up to eight feet (2.4m) back and forth in the wind.

Firefighters' attempts to reach the stricken feline had to be called off, meaning she faced 48 hours in the tree in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire.

"I don't think she could have got any higher," said Mr Masters.

"I was only too happy to help... this tree was way too high to use ladders safely in the conditions, but I was able to climb up using a rope and harness."

Mr Masters used his rope skills to scale the giant fir and bring Princess back down in a rope bag

Princess became stuck on a branch in a neighbour's garden the Friday before Christmas after getting spooked, her owner believed.

Sonia Wilkinson said: "I am really grateful Seth was able to come and help at such short notice as he was Christmas shopping in Norwich at the time.

"I'd called out a wood merchant who tried using a couple of large planks of wood to help get Princess down without success and the fire service's ladder was too short as it is such a tall tree."

The RSPCA said as the fire service had been unable to get their ladders close enough due to limited access, they then contacted Mr Masters.

He was able to use his climbing and rope skills to scale the conifer and bring Princess down, where the charity's Justin Stubbs and John Woods were waiting.

Seth Masters and the RSPCA's John Woods and Justin Stubbs (pictured left to right) were pleased to be able to reunite Princess with her owner

Ins Stubbs said: "After some cajoling he [Mr Masters] managed to catch Princess, who was relieved to be in safe hands.

"The RSPCA can't thank Seth enough as this was a very high and technical rescue, which without his genuine expertise the cat may have had to stay up there for at least another day."

Princess has been resting after her ordeal

Cat owners are advised to wait for their pets to make their own way down from trees at first or by tempting them with food.

However, owners can contact the RSPCA if their cat has been stuck for more than 24 hours, was injured or in bad weather conditions.