Turkish pensioner saves cats from fire by risking his life

ISTANBUL

A Turkish pensioner has saved four cats from a fire by risking his own life despite firefighters' warnings.

A fire erupted at Sultangazi Nursing Home in Istanbul on Sept. 28. Firefighters quickly arrived the scene and evacuated the elderly residents of the facility.

According to a report by Demirören News Agency, 75-year-old Yavuz Mehmet Söylemez told the firefighters after his evacuation that his cats remained inside amid flames engulfing the building.

Söylemez ignored the firefighters' warnings and returned to the building. The report said that he managed to save four of his 10 kittens.

"I was taking care of them. I've saved four kittens but six of them remained in in the middle of the fire, which caused some shelves collapse around the box they live," he reportedly said. 

After the fire was put under control, the agency added that Söylemez returned to the building once again to find the remaining cats.