As a severe thunderstorm approached Florida’s Lake Mary one July afternoon, a team of first responders faced a heart-stopping emergency. They’d heard cries from the bottom of a deep storm drain and soon realized someone important was trapped below ground.

The team needed to act quickly before the impending rain flooded the little guy out.

“Seminole County Animal Services (SCAS) and Seminole County Fire Department (SCFD) worked together last night to save the life of one of the littlest Seminole County residents … a four-month-old kitten,” SCAS wrote on Facebook.

The first responders, including firefighter and paramedic Dave Gomez, were desperate to reach the kitten before the first raindrop fell. When their initial plan didn’t work, they pivoted to a more hands-on approach.

“[A]fter repeated attempts to capture via traps in the drain, SCFD firefighters went down the pipe themselves to lure the kitten out,” SCAS wrote.

The determined first responders lifted the heavy grate cover, and Gomez descended into the catch basin using a ladder.

Gomez crouched before the drainage pipe, opened an enticing can of cat food and then attempted to nudge the kitten out using a long pole. The kitten refused to move at first, but he eventually wiggled his way to the pipe’s opening, where Gomez’s hands were waiting to catch him.

Seconds later, the tiny gray tabby cat bolted into the catch basin, seemingly focused on the food. Before he could snag a bite, however, Gomez clasped his hands around the kitten and triumphantly secured him.

You can watch that moment here:

The team celebrated their successful capture before loading the kitten into SCAS’ van. When the skies opened mere moments later, the rescuers felt a newfound relief.

“[T]he rescue came just in the nick of time with a downpour washing out the storm drain within the hour,” SCAS wrote.

The kitten soon arrived at SCAS’ headquarters, where a loving veterinary staff immediately started caring for him. They served him a heaping plate of food and checked over his little body, which was healthy overall. Then, they gave him a special name inspired by one of his heroes.

“[He’s] now named Dave, after the firefighter [slash] paramedic, Dave Gomez, who rescued him,” SCAS wrote.

SCAS posted Dave’s harrowing rescue on social media and hoped someone would eventually reach out to adopt him. They were happily surprised when his perfect match showed up a week later.

“He didn’t spend much time with us at all after his post on our social media,” Bree Burkett, SCAS’ program coordinator, told The Dodo. “He spent eight days here at the shelter before being neutered and adopted by his new family. His new family renamed him Apollo.”

Apollo has since settled into his new home swimmingly and is soaking up all the love his forever family has to give. Once trapped below ground in a sewer drain, Apollo now watches every thunderstorm from the safety of his cozy bed — and the sweet boy couldn’t be happier.

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Source: Los Angeles Times (edited)