Nala being rescued from a car engine by the RSPCA. (RSPCA via SWNS)
By Nathan Pynn
A cat cheated death after surviving eight agonizing hours trapped inside a car engine — with the vehicle's scorching heat saving her life.
Blue tortoiseshell Nala suffered a horrific injury when she became wedged inside the pulley system of a red Peugeot in Walsall, West Mids.
She was only discovered when the driver spotted warning lights flashing on the dashboard and smoke started pouring from the engine while traveling at about 8 a.m. on Aug. 16.
The stricken cat was found trapped beneath the engine with one of her legs snagged in the machinery.
The motorist cut the timing belt in a desperate attempt to free Nala, but she remained stuck fast.
West Midlands Fire Service crews were called but were unable to release her, prompting an urgent call to the RSPCA.
Harrowing footage shows the moment rescuers found Nala's body wrapped around the crankshaft deep inside the engine.
Her injuries were so bad bone was exposed from a serious wound to her right front leg, yet remarkably she had not bled to death.
Nala recovering after she was rescued. (RSPCA via SWNS)
RSPCA animal rescue officer Cara Gibbon said: "Nala had sustained serious injury to her right forelimb and bone was exposed.
"Thankfully, the heat from the vehicle may have saved her life by cauterizing the injury ensuring she did not bleed to death."
A major rescue operation lasting more than eight hours was launched to save the trapped feline.
Rescuers feared her injuries were so severe that a vet might have to put her to sleep while she was still trapped inside the car.
Cara said: "When we attended, we could see the true damage of what had happened and feared the only way we could help Nala would be to ask a vet to attend and put her to sleep in situ.
"She was in and out of consciousness due to the severity of the pain but thankfully the lovely team at RSPCA Birmingham Animal Hospital dropped everything to rush to Nala's rescue."
Eventually, part of the Peugeot's wheel arch had to be removed before rescuers could free Nala and rush her for emergency treatment.
Her badly damaged limb has since been amputated and she is now recovering, although rescuers warn she remains seriously unwell.
Cara added: "The injury on her chest is quite deep but she is a fighter and we are willing her to pull through."
The RSPCA does not know who owns Nala or whether she was a stray when she became trapped inside the vehicle.