I almost died after dropping a cigarette when I dozed off but my hero pet rat saved my life
A HERO rat saved its sleeping owner from burning to death by moving a lit cigarette and waking her up.
Cancer sufferer Caroline Davis’ rodent Ratty sprang into action when she dozed off due to her medication, setting her dressing gown ablaze.
The mum-of-two reckons the rescue rat must have picked up her ciggie and moved it because it was found several feet away.
She claims Ratty then woke her up by clawing at her as the dressing gown smouldered, burning her leg.
Husband Malcolm, 64, was asleep upstairs.
Caroline, 61, from Peterborough, said: “If it hadn’t of been for Ratty, we could have lost our home, or maybe even our lives.
“She saved us. I like to think that’s her way of paying me back for rescuing her in the first place.”
The family’s cat Paddy caught Ratty and brought her home 18 months ago.
Caroline said: “I didn’t think she would survive the night. I only fed and watered her to give her a comfortable end, but to my surprise she just kept getting stronger and stronger. She repaid me in spades.”