Residents Use a Plastic Bucket to Rescue a Cat From a Fast-Flowing River

A group of residents in Chengdu, China, came together to rescue a frightened cat that had become stranded beside a fast-flowing river.

The rescue was filmed near Yunfeng Bridge in Sichuan on September 6. The footage was later published by Reuters Connect and showed several people working together to reach the animal as water rushed past it.

A Makeshift Rescue Plan

The cat was trapped close to the river, where the strong current made it difficult for anyone to safely reach the animal directly.

Instead of attempting to climb down to the water, the residents came up with a simple solution. They tied a rope to a plastic bucket and carefully lowered the bucket toward the stranded cat.

After several attempts, the frightened cat managed to get inside the bucket. The residents then slowly pulled the container upward while keeping the rope steady.

The Cat Is Brought Back to Safety

The improvised rescue eventually succeeded. The cat was lifted clear of the rushing water and brought safely back onto the riverbank.

The short rescue video captures several residents coordinating their movements rather than relying on a single person. Their simple use of a bucket and rope allowed them to help the animal without entering the dangerous current themselves.

A Small Rescue That Required Teamwork

Although the rescue involved only a small animal and a simple piece of equipment, the situation could have become dangerous because of the river’s current.

The incident is another example of how ordinary objects can become useful in an emergency when people work together. In this case, a plastic bucket, a rope and several helping hands were enough to give a stranded cat a way out of the water.

Sources

• Reuters Connect — “China: Residents Lower Bucket to Rescue Stranded Cat From River” — published September 30, 2026.
• Spectee — “China: Residents Lower Bucket to Rescue Stranded Cat From River” — footage recorded September 6, 2026.