“Miracle” Kitten Rescues a Stranded Hiker During a Brutal Snowstorm

When Vladislav Duda made the heartbreaking decision to escape war-ravaged Ukraine and seek safety in neighboring Romania, he understood that nearly everything he owned would have to be left behind. Yet there was one companion he refused to abandon — his cherished orange kitten, Peach.

In the end, that choice would mean the difference between life and death.

While attempting to cross the mountains along the Romanian border, Duda and two fellow travelers were suddenly caught in a fierce snowstorm. Battling brutal conditions, Duda — with Peach tucked close to him — lost his footing and slid down a steep ravine, leaving him injured and unable to climb back up.

As night fell, temperatures plunged far below freezing, and the others were forced to continue on without him. Duda was stranded, exposed, and trapped in the icy wilderness.

But he was not completely alone.

Given the extreme and dangerous conditions Duda endured, Dan Benga, the head of the rescue team, is convinced that one crucial factor helped keep him alive.

Peach.

“The kitten’s body heat kept him warm — she quite literally saved his life,” Benga explained to The Associated Press. “All he was focused on was protecting the cat. He wasn’t thinking about himself at all.”

Throughout the rescue, Peach never left Duda’s side, remaining with him as crews carefully transported him down the mountain to safety.