A tiny kitten found trapped in a Florida storm drain went from cold, hungry, and scared to safe, cuddled, and officially adopted.
Destin Fire Rescue responded Tuesday, May 19, after receiving multiple reports of a kitten stuck inside a storm drain near 1080 Hwy 98 around 11 a.m.
When crews arrived, they found the little cat trapped deep below street level. The drain appeared to be more than 6 feet deep, making the tiny kitten look even smaller and more helpless.
“The crew accessed the drain and firefighter Fuller entered to rescue the kitten,” Destin Fire Rescue shared on Facebook. “Cold, hungry, and scared, the kitten was brought out safely!”
After the kitten was pulled from the drain, on-site paramedics checked him over to make sure he was okay.
But the fire department’s rescue mission did not end there.
In an email to PEOPLE, a spokesperson for Destin Fire Rescue said firefighters made several attempts to reach the kitten before members of “B shift” finally managed to save him.
That detail ended up inspiring the kitten’s new name.
Captain Britt Clark adopted the kitten for his son, and the family named him Bee in honor of the B shift firefighters who rescued him.
Destin Fire Rescue shared several photos from the sweet rescue, including images of the storm drain where Bee was found and pictures of the kitten cuddling with firefighters after he was brought to safety.
The department praised the crew for going above and beyond to save the little animal.
“Great job to B shift for going the extra mile to certainly save a helpless animal!” Destin Fire Rescue wrote.
Bee may have started the day stuck in a gutter, but thanks to a determined rescue crew, he ended it with a new name, a new family, and a forever home.