Plan B Forum

It was the emergency callout every paramedic dreads – a child in danger.

As they raced to a house where a five-year-old had gone into cardiac arrest, they feared for the worst ... until they arrived to discover the youngster was actually a cat. A fast-response car and an ambulance were scrambled at 6.45am after a desperate couple dialled 999 and pleaded with the emergency operator to revive their ‘five-year-old’. But when the teams arrived at the home in Ware, Hertfordshire, they found a tearful couple clutching their five year-old pet, which later died.


An ambulance spokesman said the call could have meant the difference between life and death for a genuine patient. One paramedic said: ‘The 999 situation that raises the adrenaline the most is probably being called to a seriously ill child. It’s human nature. 'I think the paramedics were probably relieved it wasn't a child to start with and then they were absolutely gobsmacked'

‘Fast-response cars and ambulances will be driven at the maximum speed for safety to the scene and paramedics will be mentally prepared to offer their immediate professional assistance. You’d certainly be pumped up by it. The paramedics were probably relieved it wasn’t a child to start with and then they were absolutely gobsmacked.’ ‘It was a surreal situation. I’ve gone to some silly calls, but nothing like this. I can’t understand why they didn’t try to call a vet. Some people think 999 covers everything.


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The bizarre 999 call was received by East of England Ambulance Service on August 10 from a foreign couple.

The paramedic said they had been in the country a short time only and may have been confused, adding: ‘We get a lot of callers with language barriers.

Cat survives being cooked in microwave by thug... and was still hot seven hours after the attack


A father-to-be tried to kill his cat by cooking it in a microwave because she had scratched his hand.

Stephen Stacey, 20, of Portsmouth, placed the animal inside the kitchen appliance for five seconds - causing the feline to cook from the inside.

The cat - called 'Come on then' - survived after vets doused her in water and packed her in ice, but was still emitting heat seven hours after the incident.

The remarkably resilient animal suffered injuries to her eyes, brain tissue, other internal organs and her tongue.

Stacey has now been banned from keeping animals for life.

Neighbour Simon Allen was woken at 2.30am on February 25 this year when Stacey's girlfriend Jade, 17, knocked on his door in tears.

Mr Allen then confronted Stacey asking where the cat was and he 'opened the microwave and the cat walked out with his tongue hanging out', Portsmouth Magistrates' Court heard.

Sarah Wheadon, prosecuting, said: 'Simon Allen went to their flat and the defendant said the cat had scratched him. He showed him his hand which did indeed have scratches on it.

'Stacey told him he had intended to kill the cat by throwing it out of the window or putting it in the microwave.

'He said he had been in the microwave for about five seconds.'

Mr Allen took the cat away from Stacey, who had been drinking all day, and back to his flat where he called the RSPCA.

Ms Wheadon added: 'RSCPA inspector Jenny Ride examined the cat and found the top of her eyes were red and she was still hot to touch.'

The court heard Inspector Ride rushed into the bathroom, placed the cat in the bath and poured three jugs of cold water on her to cool her down.

Come on then also showed signs of acute stress and saw another vet the next morning who had ice packs placed in her cage to keep her cool.

The court was told unemployed Stacey had owned the cat for six months, which has been renamed 'Nancy' by RSPCA staff.

'Most people will be outraged by this. It was a heinous act,' RSPCA inspector Mike Garrity said.

'I am deplored by his actions. He can't blame the fact that he said he was drunk at the time. He needs to take responsibility for his actions.

'The cat has made a full recovery and can look to a much brighter future.' 

Ms Wheadon added: 'Stacey was upset after an argument with his girlfriend.

'The vet concluded the cat had suffered significantly and was severely traumatised.'