Long Island Man Hailed a Hero After Dramatic Rescue of Trapped Cat

John DeBacker, a Long Island resident with a reputation for rescuing felines, has been credited with a heroic rescue after saving a cat named Lola, who had been trapped behind a wall for approximately five days. The ordeal began when Lola, a frightened and exhausted cat, disappeared during her family's move from their second-floor apartment in Franklin Square.

DeBacker, who has been rescuing cats for over 15 years, was called in by the family. Initially, he attempted to lure Lola out with a trap baited with food and equipped with cameras. However, the cat, likely still spooked by the move, avoided the trap when she emerged at night. The situation escalated when Lola stopped appearing altogether, having fallen and become trapped behind a wall on the first floor.

When discovered, Lola was reportedly upside down, weak, and consuming insulation. DeBacker expressed concerns about her survival, but a breakthrough occurred last Friday. With the assistance of a contractor, they began cutting a hole in the wall using an electric saw. An endoscopic camera revealed Lola's presence, but her nervous reaction prompted a switch to a quieter drill to avoid further frightening her and driving her deeper into the wall.

During the delicate extraction, DeBacker reached through the narrow opening and made contact with Lola's hind legs. In a video of the rescue, he is seen carefully pulling the cat backward and out of the wall. A woman's relieved exclamation, "Safe!" can be heard as the dusty and exhausted cat was placed into a crate.

DeBacker described the moment of Lola's release as "the greatest feeling in the world." He noted the remarkable nature of her survival for five days without sustenance, especially while trapped upside down, which would have caused blood to rush to her head.

Lola was transported to an emergency veterinarian, where traces of insulation were found in her system. She has since been reunited with her family, though she is reportedly struggling with a poor appetite and continues to receive veterinary care. DeBacker advised cat owners preparing to move to secure their pets first, rather than waiting until the moving process has begun, as the disruption can cause cats to hide.