A pilot who participated in a search and rescue mission in Utah has given a rescued cat a new lease on life after her owners died in a tragic accident.
In April, Matthew Nannen, 45, and Bailee Crane, 58, died after falling nearly 400 feet from a viewing area at Bryce Canyon National Park. During the recovery operation, search and rescue pilot Chelsea Tugaw and her team discovered an unexpected survivor.
“We thought we were retrieving a backpack,” Tugaw told Newsweek. “But it turned out to be a cat carrier—with a cat still inside.”
The team attached the carrier to a harness and airlifted it to safety. Tugaw described the cat as “subdued and quiet,” estimating it had been alone for 12 to 15 hours. Once back at the command post, the cat was turned over to the sheriff’s department and later brought to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary for care.
At the sanctuary, staff named the cat Mirage. Judah Battista, chief sanctuary officer, said Mirage had two broken teeth and cracked ribs but was in “remarkable condition” considering the ordeal. Her name, Battista explained, came from the disbelief at seeing her alive—“You had to look twice to see if it was real.”
Although initially stable, Mirage’s health declined a week later. She stopped eating and had trouble breathing. X-rays revealed fluid in her lungs, likely caused by trauma from the fall. She was transferred to a specialist in Las Vegas for further treatment. During this time, some of Tugaw’s crew members stayed in contact with the sanctuary to monitor her condition.
Meanwhile, the team reached out to the victims’ extended family to see if they could take Mirage in. Grieving and unable to adopt her, the family gave their blessing for Tugaw to step in.
Tugaw, who already had two cats at home, welcomed Mirage about a month after the rescue. Despite being around 12 years old and having endured a traumatic event, Mirage quickly adapted.
“She’s doing great,” Tugaw said. “She’s very outgoing for her age. She likes being around people, purrs, and loves to be petted.”
Tugaw hopes Mirage’s story will encourage more people to consider adopting older pets, who often wait longer for homes despite needing just as much love and care.
“Our hearts go out to the family,” Battista said. “We’re very grateful to be part of this miraculous story.”
Related topics:
