FLORIDA — Charter boat Capt. Jordan Smith had never before seen anything like what he saw on Thursday by the Marler Bridge.
“I’ve seen some pretty crazy stuff out there but never have seen a living animal get thrown off the bridge,” stated Smith.
Smith, who is 35, who captains the boat Profishonal with Let’s Fish Destin Charters, was passing Coast Guard Station Destin near the northwest side of the bridge in the Choctawhatchee Bay in the afternoon in order to pickup a group for a fishing trip.
“I just saw something out of the corner of my eye. I saw some movement. Then I heard Splat! Splat! I thought someone threw some trash down.”
Smith went on to explain that he first thought it was an otter because he had seen them in the water in the past. However, he saw two orange eyes looking at him with a look that said, “please save me.”
He immediately grabbed a net and scooped the black cat out of the water.
“When I took it out of the net it grabbed a hold of my arm. I held the cat all the way into the HarborWalk. It was pretty intense.”
Smith was so absolutely focused on his new feline friend that his boat hit the bridge twice during the rescue.
“Luckily I’ve got a good boat,” he noted.
When he finally got to the docks a group of people gathered around him, including Nicole Manard, whom Smith explained works at HarborWalk. He asked Manard if she would mind cat sitting until he finished his charter. Manard agreed and took the cat to a nearby veterinarian.
He does indeed plan to contact law enforcement about the incident but he does not expect the culprit to be found.
Smith plans to pick up the cat on Friday from the vet and give her a forever home.
When asked just what he would name her, Smith replied, “I’m thinking, Miracle.”
